Advice on boosting milk yields from forage

Producing more milk from forage is often seen as the preserve of extensive, low-yielding herds – but intensive, high-yielding systems can benefit too.

Grass is the cheapest form of feed and although there can be some barriers to maximising usage, they are usually not difficult or expensive to overcome.

According to Richard Simpson, development director at dairy specialist Kingshay, boosting milk produced from forage will benefit the bottom line of almost any dairy business, small or large.

“There is a lot of potential for the majority of herds – what is needed is belief and confidence in your system and then training of the appropriate management skills,” he said.

The main obstacles to getting more from forage, particularly from grazing, are insufficient farm tracks, inflexible fencing, and a desire to control the whole ration for management ease.

Speaking ahead of next week’s Grassland & Muck event, Mr Simpson said farmers can find plenty of ways around these barriers, with very little expenditure.

The key, he said, is paying attention to detail and adopting a flexible approach.

That involves growing good quality grass and clover swards, with the best varieties, and making effective use of manures and fertilisers for optimum performance.

In a high-yielding herd, Mr Simpson suggests targeting grazing at lower yielding cows producing up to 30 litres per day, with appropriate concentrates fed in the parlour.

“That’s not to say that higher yielders can’t graze, they just need more supplementation,” he added.

“It’s about achieving milk from grass without losing significant yield – there is a balance to be found.”

On average, he said Kingshay farmers produced 33% of their milk from forage in the rolling year to February 2017.

According to Mr Simpson, yields across the average and top 10% of producers – analysed by their production from forage – were similar, at around 7,800 litres, but the top 10% produced 55% of that milk from forage.

As a result, their margin over purchased feed improved to 19.69p/litre against an average of 17.25p/litre, despite similar milk prices.

In contrast, the bottom quartile of producers had higher yields – at 8,122 litres, but only produced 16% of that from forage, resulting in a margin of just 15.78p/litre.

Most herds, he said, should be able to achieve more than 3,000 litres of milk from forage per cow, although more than 4,000 litres is a good target for many.

“Focusing on the figures really is worthwhile,” said Mr Simpson.

“If you benchmark you know where you are and can plan to move forward; it’s all about realising the true value of forage.”

Grassland and Muck will take place at Stoneleigh next Wednesday and Thursday.

Picture: Kris Miller. Grass is the cheapest form of feed.