The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Fife farm event hears from New Zealand expert
New Zealand expert tells how investment could pay off within 18 months
Farmers from across Fife converged on Balhelvie Farm, near Newburgh, to learn how rotational grazing has boosted the farm’s grass production and reduced its fertiliser bill.
The meeting was led by New Zealand grazing expert James Daniel who told producers that managed grazing was easy to adopt and could improve pasture production by 30% compared to set-stocking.
It involved, he said, “simply providing a group of animals with eight fields and moving them every three to six days”.
Mr Daniel added that if fields were too large to be grazed within five to six days by the livestock group, then they should be sub-divided into paddocks using semi-permanent electric fencing.
He claimed the investment in infrastructure could be returned in less than 18 months.
Host farmers Jim Wilson and his son Matthew have been trialling rotational grazing on their 65 hectares of grass. They run 75 Aberdeen-Angus and Angus cross suckler cows and 200 cross ewes with all progeny being finished on the farm.
Matthew Wilson said: “We have been splitting paddocks with electric fences for the last two years and have noticeably increased the amount of grass we have grown while reducing fertiliser usage.
“The challenge has been utilising all the grass at peak growth times.”
Mr Daniel agreed that this could be challenging and suggested that the Wilsons could use a quick 16-20 day rotation in peak growth as well as removing some paddocks earlier for silage cut.
“The mower rather than the topper is the tool for the job as it can be set lower providing better quality re-growth,” he added.
Mr Daniel also pointed out that electric fencing was a psychological barrier so its strength was dependent on an appropriate voltage and correct wire height.
“When erecting a fence, posts should be placed as often as necessary to maintain wire height up to a maximum of 18m, when using three wires, or 24m when using one wire,” he said.
“As polywire has a much higher resistance than high-tensile steel, it should only be used for temporary fences which are being regularly moved.”
Mr Daniel added that good earthing was vital.
He said: “Galvanised metal posts or similar need to be driven into the ground, ideally in a wet site, allowing one metre in the ground per two to four joules of energiser output.”
Increasing numbers of Scottish farmers have been experimenting with rotational grazing since the introduction of QMS grazing group projects.
Mr Daniel told producers it was easiest to start rotational grazing with cattle as they only needed one or two-strand fences rather that the three used with sheep.