Stocking rates for an upland farm

[Peak Angus]

We farm around 205 acres of good ploughable land at around 1000ft with high rainfall. Currently running around 200 ewes with their lambs taking them through to finishing. Approx 330 lambs this year. All wintered on farm. Cattle on farm consist of 120 head pedigree suckler beef. Calving 50 at present increasing to 70 for 2018. Grow 15-20 acres of barley for wholecrop and 20-30 acres a year forage crops before reseeds. Use approx 28t of single top fert per year plus FYM and green PAS100 compost. Aim for 3 cuts of silage to minimise bought in feed for youngstock.
Currently sell 200 round bales of silage per year. Sustainably, what could we increase stocking rates to on this land?!

 

[GTB]

Sustainably, what could we increase stocking rates to on this land?!

Only you can know that really but IMHO you're doing really well to keep that number on 205 acres at 1000ft.

 

[Purli R]

surprised you can get the gate shut!

 

[Peak Angus]

We started rotational grazing and have seen a vast increase in grass growth since then. Have not started measuring grass but have got the general feel for when stock needs putting on/off or shutting up for mowing. Total bought in concentrates for sheep would be 13t per year (ewe rolls and lamb creep). Rearer nuts for bulls and heifers approx 20t per year. We aim to feed quality rather than quantity balanced to our home grown feed.

 

[msheep66]

Sounds like a very productive farm you have there.

 

[Peak Angus]

Thanks, reseeding has definitely helped us achieve this, however I feel we could improve stocking rates rather than selling bales at cost of production.

 

[MJT]

That's a fair stocking rate for the type of ground, on 640 acres of upland ground averaging 1000ft farming in a similar way to how yours sounds we run just over 1400 ewes and a few over 100 cows, so you're rate would be a fair bit more .

If you can utilise your forage crops and reseed every year you wouldn't notice a few more ewes, but only you know what your ground can do, but I'd say you aren't far from limit. You don't want to just increase expenses and create more work by increasing stock and gain nothing from it.

 

[hendrebc]

If you sell 200 bales EVERY year then id say you could probably up stocking rates to whatever it would take.to eat 200 bales either grazed or in the bale. Id say that was your buffer.between being under and overstocked. Really fine line between the 2 ive been overstocked and having no grass is no fun at all and can be expensive. Id keep selling bales (or leave it as defered grazing) cattle wouldnt take long to eat that in a late spring or early winter.

 

[Peak Angus]

Thanks for the replies. The fact it is such a fine line is what I'm conscious of. I don't want to buy acres in concentrates to feed extra mouths. That would defeat what I'm trying to achieve growing my stock off predominantly home grown forage.

 

[CopperBeech]

The biggest problem with all of these sums, is that they get thrown out by a bad year! I often look at ground and think its understocked. . . . . . then get to February . . . . .