The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Animal feed tops agenda at farm meet
Expert also on hand to discuss how to improve poor arable field yields
After a winter and spring where animal feed has been at the forefront of farming minds, it is an obvious topic to lead the agenda at next week’s Angus monitor farm meeting.
Poppy Frater, a sheep and grassland specialist with SAC Consulting, will be on hand to discuss rotational grazing at the event at Mill of Inverarity Farm.
The Stodart family who farm the land near Forfar have tried out rotational grazing and are keen to take a more systematic approach. The group will be exploring how to maximise grass productivity through managing key areas such as stocking densities and shift patterns.
Rob Stodart said: “Getting the most out of grass is critical for us, especially as we have been building our sheep numbers and we need to feed them efficiently throughout the year.
“Grass growth has been very slow so far this season, I would normally look to rent grass parks for ewes, but it’s an expensive option, so I want to find other solutions.”
The family is also exploring the use of fodder beet, with support from consultant Kirsten Williams.
While the crop is not a popular fodder option locally, the Stodarts are interested in good reports of yield, nutrition and its potential to improve soil structure and have grown five acres this year.
Rory Stodart said: “I’m told that it has the potential to feed a lot of livestock over a fairly small area, and we need to give the grass a break over the winter and encourage early spring growth
“Putting the ewes on the fodder beet should allow us to do that.”
The family has also been looking at other ways of improving animal feed management, including undersowing spring barley with grass for winter grazing for the sheep.
Previous experience showed that the grass growth led to a decreased spring barley yield and the Stodarts will reveal the results of this year’s experiment at the meeting.
Also on hand at the event will be Robert McCoul, an agronomist from the Glenside Group, who will discuss how to improve yields in poorly-performing arable fields.
The usual tests on one field at Mill of Inverarity have failed to solve why its yields are low.
Mr McCoul has been digging deeper into the field’s soil biology to find an explanation, and he will share his results at the meeting.
The meeting will take place on Thursday at Mill of Inverarity Farm, Forfar DD8 2JN. 11am - 2.30pm. The event is free to attend but to assist with catering, attendees are advised to book a place by contacting Stacey Hamilton on 01569 762305