How will I replace the feed from that paddock while I'm renewing it?

Date: 2011-01-11 | Category: Dairy

Buy it in, or make extra supplies in advance. You can afford to.

The examples both have the purchase of 2 t dry matter of feed for each hectare renewed factored in, and the result is still highly profitable.

The usual supplementary feeding options apply - silage, palm kernel extract or whatever else suits your system best.

Another point to remember: if the farm is enjoying good growth when renewal takes place, it may be that additional feed will not be required.

It is worth repeating here that the paddocks taken out of the system for renewal are the poorest - and the poorer they were, the less additional feed will be needed to replace them.

However it would always be prudent to have additional feed on hand.

I’m going to do it.

Does that mean I have to grow a lot more crop first?

• Two chances to control weeds [in the spring before a summer crop is planted and in the autumn before the new pasture is sown]
• The ability to incorporate base fertiliser and lime when cultivating
• The opportunity to do contour and/ or drainage work
• The ability to increase DM production from the paddock over the summer, affording more stored feed on hand for the autumn when the new grass is coming into production
• Reduced insect pressure [using the crop to break the insect pest cycle]
• Breaks the cycle of difficult to control weeds like Californian thistle

Cropping isn’t essential to pasture renewal.

Grass-to-grass programmes [i.e. going straight from old grass to new grass] can enable you to renew more paddocks than you can practically [or profitably] plan to break-crop.

This technique gives you a relatively fast turnaround, with paddocks typically back producing grass 7–9 weeks after being removed from the rotation for renewal.

If you are not familiar with grass-to-grass, your trusted rural supplier will be able to help. They can advise you on which method to use, since cultivation, spray-drill and undersowing all have their respective advantages, depending on your particular situation.

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