Winter wheat wholecrop

[Scania143h]

I'm a newbie to wholecrop as a feed for dairy cows. We have a small acreage in as a trial this year. It was sowed on the 10/10/2016 with Reflection WW.

So the question is what is the optimium stage to harvest to get the most feed value out off it? It is currently just past the milky stage. I've attached a few photos.

 

[Great In Grass]

You are almost there, it needs to be at a cheddar cheese like stage (approx 40% DM).

I'd recommend using an inoculant and if you can cover it with grass in a narrow Clamp.

 

[bigw]

Take it at the cheesy stage to maximise starch levels

 

[Scania143h]

Thanks for the replies. What is the timescale from the milky stage to the cheddar cheese stage? Days or weeks?

 

[Great In Grass]

Days, regular daily checks are advised.

 

[4course]

take it to harvest sell it as grain sell the straw buy in grass bank the change with feed wheat at £155/t nov cant be wrong assuming a 3tn plus, crop just an idea

 

[Tarw Coch]

You are almost there, it needs to be at a cheddar cheese like stage (approx 40% DM).

I'd recommend using an inoculant and if you can cover it with grass in a narrow Clamp.

Which reminds me, I need to order some inoculant for mine.

 

[phil the cat]

take it to harvest sell it as grain sell the straw buy in grass bank the change with feed wheat at £155/t nov cant be wrong assuming a 3tn plus, crop just an idea

That's the conclusion we came to- with wheat price at that the wholecrop has got to be worth around £50/ton based on a 12-14t/acre yield which is strong money I think!

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Crimp

 

[Beef farmer]

take it to harvest sell it as grain sell the straw buy in grass bank the change with feed wheat at £155/t nov cant be wrong assuming a 3tn plus, crop just an idea

And feed no concentrate?

 

[Scania143h]

So I've just spent the last two hours working out the cost off growing the winter wheat up to date. Wish I hadn't to be honest!

Spray £132/acre
Seed £29/acre
Fertiliser £79/acre
Contracting £89/acre

Total £329/acre up to date Not including conacre

 

[Scania143h]

Does the harvesting time effect the quality off wholecrop? Have the harvester man looking to come at 5am to harvest on Tuesday morning. We try to mow all the grass around mid day for the high sugars just wondering is cereal crops similar?

 

[Great In Grass]

The DM% of the crop has the effect on quality for wholecrop you'd be aiming for 30-40% as DM rises so does crude protein, ME & starch.

Are you using an additive?

 

[Scania143h]

Don't plan on using additive as we have grass to go on top off the wholecrop and it will be fed out before next spring.