If poor grazing conditions highlighted anything this spring, it was that silage quality will dictate animal performance when grass in the diet is limited.

Silage quality and profitability of farming enterprises have long been assessed side by side, with the current climate emphasising this even more for the upcoming silage season. Farmers focus should be centered around increasing efficiencies inside the farm gate such as improving the quality of home grown feed especially grass silage.

To help with this take a look at our 4 step silage guide below:

1. Cutting date

At one point, every farm will have 80% dry matter digestibility (DMD) grass available to them in the field.  However, the decision is often made too late regarding the cutting date, resulting in poor quality silage. Cutting grass younger improves digestibility and protein content, resulting in a reduced requirement for high-cost supplementation. When discussing earlier cutting dates, silage quantity is often raised as an issue. However, it’s important to remember cutting earlier allows for quicker and earlier regrowth’s, leading to increased annual yield/ha.

In some circumstances, for example silage only land blocks, earlier cutting will facilitate a third cut in late August, further boosting total annual silage production. Once seed heads appear, DMD will be around 70% at most, and will drop by 1% DMD every 2-3 days thereafter. The advice to improve average quality is to cut from mid-May. Some flexibility in the harvest date of approximately 4-5 days is usually necessary to ensure favourable cutting conditions.

2. Adapting to changes in weather

Weather is the main variable on Irish farms when it comes to silage making. Unexpected changes in weather can and will delay harvesting, however when the window of opportunity arises, farmers should seize the ‘first-cut option’. In recent years, where the decision was made to wait, the weather unfortunately broke and many farmers were forced to delay harvesting for two weeks.

The optimum mowing time is late afternoon or evening, following several hours of sunshine when sugars are high. Sugar is the fuel for fast and efficient fermentation.

3. Effective wilting

Once cut, grass should be tethered immediately and in ideal conditions allowed no more than 24 hours in the field to achieve an effective wilt. Farmers should be aiming for a dry matter content of approximately 25%.

Where wilting continues for long periods, the grass quality is starting to deteriorate, and significant energy losses are seen. Over the last number of years, we have become over-reliant on long periods of wilting, and in many cases over-wilting, leading to dry silage and unstable pit-faces. Dry silage is prone to secondary fermentation, heating, and energy losses.

4. Using a silage additive

With the value that is now placed on home grown forage, achieving a good fermentation to preserve it is more critical than ever. The use of an additive has long been proven to improve fermentation, leading to less waste.

The main aim with using a silage additive is to retain as much nutritional value as possible from the field to the pit. Silage treated with an additive has been proven to achieve a better feed-out, with increased dry matter intakes, added energy content and increased digestibility, resulting in improved animal performance.

GrasZyme Sugarboost

Our GrasZyme Sugarboost forage additive has long proven itself as an effective silage preservation aid. The technology used in the additive has been scientifically proven in independent trials to reduce unnecessary plant breakdown and ensure reliability even in difficult low-sugar conditions.

GrasZyme Sugarboost is proven to:

• Increase ADG by 110 g/head/day in beef situations.
• Increase milk production from forage by 1 litre/cow/day.
• Increase DM intakes by 0.4 kg/head/day.
• Increase milk protein percentages by 0.09%.
• Reduce fermentation losses by 6.1% (equates to 30t in a 500t pit).

Further information: 

To learn more about our GrasZyme Sugarboost, contact your local Sales Advisor.

Reseeding should be considered as a long- term investment. It is advised farmers should aim to reseed approximately 10% of their grazing grounds every year, resulting in a renewed platform every 10 years.

Current grassland management figures highlight that every extra tonne of grass utilised is worth an additional €173 to the farm.

Grass utilisation hinges around grassland management practices and soil fertility. At the root of this needs to be a pasture that is palatable, has the ability to grow sufficient levels of grass, especially in the vital periods of the year, and is accommodating to the establishment of clover.

Choosing the right grass seed mixture

Grass seed costs typically account for 20% of the total reseeding spend. It is important to assess what mixture will best suit your system, as these grasses will be in situ for the next 8-10 years.

The least performing paddocks must be identified first. Take into consideration poor total annual yields, poor response to applied fertiliser, slow recovery post-grazing, high weed burden, low perennial ryegrass %, and low or no clover establishment. Once you have identified the poor-performing paddocks, the next step is to choose a grass seed mixture that will best suit the desired system. Whether that is for grazing, silage, zero-grazing, 1-cut and graze.

When it comes to selecting the correct grass seed mixture, only varieties on the Irish Grass and Clover Recommended List should be considered. Selecting a grass seed mixture with varieties from the Irish Grass and Clover Recommended List gives farmers the confidence that they are selecting a mixture that has been tried and tested, with proven performance in Irish growing conditions.

Diploids vs Tetraploids 

Questions regarding diploids versus tetraploids, and what the ‘best’ ratio of inclusion is for grazing are often asked. In the past it was thought that diploids were a requirement for heavy ground as they were more tolerant against poaching. However, research shows that persistency on wet farms between diploids and tetraploids is insignificant, with grazing management carrying much more weight in this area.

Tetraploid-dominant mixtures should be considered in all systems, as tetraploids typically perform better for grazing utilisation and offer faster recovery post-grazing or cutting. Ground cover is often also thought to be poorer in tetraploid dominant mixes, however with the inclusion of new varieties such as Nashota, this allows for high percentages of tetraploids to be used without having to compromise on ground cover. The number of varieties sown in a mixture should be limited to three-four perennials. Sowing a mixture with more varieties than this can dilute certain desired performance characteristics.

Grass Seed: Desired characteristics 

A grass seed mixture should contain varieties that offer a blend of key traits. These key traits should centre around spring growth, total yield and grazing ultisiation.

Grass availability during the shoulder seasons of the year (spring and autumn) is vitally important, with spring carrying the highest weight. According to Teagasc, spring grass has a value of €0.17c/kg DM, relative to summer grass valued at €0.04c and autumn grass valued at €0.11c/kg DM.

Grazing utilisation is important and should be a key factor when selecting a grass seed mixture As part of the Pasture Profit Index (PPI), grazing utilisation is given in a star-rating scale 1-5 and should be part of every farmer’s decision making when choosing a grass seed mixture. According to Maeve, the winning and losing of every reseed will be how satisfied the herd are when grazing it.

Grass Seed Mixtures 2023

Agritech’s grass seed mixtures for 2023 include leading varieties Nashota, Aberplentiful, AberClyde and Callan.

• AberClyde is the number 1 listed variety on the PPI for a consecutive fourth year. An intermediate tetraploid that is suitable for both silage and grazing mixtures.
• Nashota is a unique and exciting variety that has ground cover scores on par with top diploids, while also having the desired characteristics of a tetraploid – this year a 5-star variety for grazing utilisation.
• Aberplentfiul is a highly rated variety, ranking as the number 1 late tetraploid for spring growth and total overall annual yield.
• Callan is the number 1 diploid for grazing utilisation and is very highly rated for spring growth.

GroQuik®: Proven Results 

All of Agritech’s grass seed mixtures are treated with a unique biological seed stimulant, GroQuik®. GroQuik® has been proven to enhance seedling establishment and accelerate germination and root development in both grasses and clover. In recent commercial field trials, GroQuik® dressed grass seed mixtures was proven to increase plant emergence by 14.8%, leading to 8.3% more grass availability in the first grazing and 5.4% more available grass in the first season of ley establishment.

Further information: 

To learn more about our Tipperary Grass Seed Range, contact your local Sales Advisor.

As Irish farmers, we must be relentless in the pursuit to maximise the use of our unrivalled global advantage, growing grass. Alongside good grassland management, improving soil fertility and grazing infrastructure, reseeding is a critical pillar in optimising output from the grazing platform, be it for milk or meat production.

Reseeding a pasture should be viewed as a long-term farm investment over 8-10 years. The aim is to reseed 10% of the grazing platform annually, resulting in a completely renewed platform every 10 years. However, currently only 7% of the land area on specialist dairy farms in Ireland is reseeded annually (approx. 2.5% nationally if we look at the country’s entire grassland area).

A low proportion of perennial ryegrass in the sward is costing farmers up to €300/ha in lost grass production during the growing season. While according to national farm survey data, increasing total herbage production when coupled with good grassland management, can result in an additional €173 profit for every extra tonne of grass utilised on farm.

The key benefits that come with reseeding:

• Increased growth rates in the shoulders of the year.
• A sward that is approximately 25% more responsive to applied nitrogen.
• Higher feed value.
• Faster regrowth post-grazing or cutting.

In many situations due to increased demand in the spring, reseeding plans are postponed until autumn. However, this shouldn’t be the case- the higher performance post-reseeding typically compensates for loss of performance during the reseeding process and the poor performance of the sward prior to reseeding. This coupled with the fact that growth rates elsewhere on the platform at this time of year will be at their highest.

Also, compared to autumn reseeding, spring reseeds generally allow greater flexibility for post-emergence weed control, with post-emergence weed control being crucial for long-term success of a sward.

Further information: 

For further advice on spring reseeding, view our top tips here. 

To learn more about our Tipperary Grass Seed Range, contact your local Sales Advisor.

Where are we regarding grass currently?

Grazing conditions on many farms in February were better than ever expected, however inclement weather conditions in the last week, coupled with low growth rates to date so far, have resulted in many farms having to plan ahead to stretch what grass is still available to the herd. The aim here is to keep a level of grass in the diet and strategically use on/off grazing over the next few weeks until growth rates increase.

For later-type farms, the priority is to get an amount of grass into the diet as soon as possible. The energy content of grazed grass varies from 1.05 UFL per kg dry matter for leafy fresh spring grass, to 0.85 UFL per kg dry matter for very stemmy grass in the autumn. However, relative to an indoor grass silage diet (72-77% dry matter digestibility silage varying from 0.81-0.86 UFL), grazed grass has a significantly higher energy content.

Current grassland management advice: 

• Walk the farm weekly to assess grass availability (grazing conditions should be monitored on a more frequent basis and on an individual paddock basis).
• The average farm cover (AFC) on many farms is dropping below 600 kg DM/ha, and the temptation where conditions are favourable is to keep grazing hard.
• Hold AFC above 600 kg DM/ha until early April, which may mean decreasing your demand with silage buffer and/or increasing concentrates.
• Match demand to grass growth (e.g., growing 15 kg/day with a stocking rate 2.5 LU/ha = allocating 6 kg DM of grass/LU/day).
• Where AFC drops below 550 kg DM/ha, growth will be significantly hampered.

What’s the target?

The target is to have 65% of the platform grazed by March 17^th. Many farms due to favourable grazing conditions in early February are well ahead of this target and must avoid running tight/running out of grass until growth rates increase. Where this is an issue, aim to graze no more than approximately 2% of the platform per day.

Striking the balance with fresh cows

As many farms still have fresh cows being introduced to the main herd on a daily basis, it is important to remember how vital it is that these cows are achieving their dry matter intake potential. Offering freshly calved cows a silage buffer with an element of fibre will help alleviate the pressure they may be under and reduce the risk of LDA’s/digestive upsets. A balance must be struck between achieving good graze-outs, while not restricting fresh cows’ intakes – this will require close monitoring. High output herds will be in a similar situation, whereby the transition to grass should be managed correctly.

Remember, a cow will typically reach peak milk output 6-8 weeks post-calving but will only reach peak dry matter intake 10-12 weeks after calving. Feeding rates in the parlour currently will be dependent on the amount of grass in the diet and cow output, however, below is an example of a typical herds feeding requirements while on/off grazing currently.

For further advice on grassland management, contact your local Agritech Sales Advisor.

Grass seed assembly is the backbone of Agritech and we have long recognised that the key criteria in the assembly of grass mixtures is to include high quality grass varieties of complementary characteristics. Our 2020 Tipperary Grass Seed Range has revealed that two high quality late varieties, AberPlentiful and AberBite, are included in our grass mixtures once again.

AberPlentiful is the highest ranked variety for Total Yield on the 2020 Recommended List and Pasture Profit Index (PPI). It’s a late tetraploid with very good growth characteristics, especially spring growth, where it is also number one in the Late category. AberBite is also a highly sought after variety which features on the Recommend List and PPI. It features a unique combination of excellent grass quality characteristics and high silage yield potential.

According to Agritech’s, Seamus O Slatarra, “The latest Recommended List and PPI once again highlights our commitment to including high quality grass varieties in the assembly of our grass mixtures.

“Our Tipperary Grass Seed Range has a mix for every situation and has built an excellent reputation with farmers throughout the country for delivering optimal germination, establishment and increased yield in new grass leys. All of the Tipperary Grass Seed mixtures are treated with the unique GroQuik Seed Stimulant to further enhance germination rates and crop lifetime production.”

For further advice on spring reseeding or to choose a suitable grass mixture from the Tipperary Grass Seed Range, contact your local Agritech Distributor/Sales Rep or click here.

2020 Tipperary Grass Mixtures Brochure, available to View or Download Now

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A high level of management is required to ensure that the reseeding process is carried out properly, as too often, the return on investment is restricted due to poor sward establishment. The two most important things to focus on are; the quality of the swards and the fertility of the soil.

Like any investment, grassland reseeding should be carefully planned to minimise the cost and maximise the return.

1. Identify the lowest performing areas, i.e. below farm average grass growth/ha or a noticeable drop in animal performance.
2. Identify the resources behind this drop in performance. For example, does the sward contain less than 40% perennial ryegrass?
3. Has the soil received adequate Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K) and Lime? Carry out a soil sample if required.

Soil Testing 

To achieve maximum results from your new reseed and to improve the productivity of the sward, soil fertility must be correct. Prior to reseeding, it is crucial to carry out soil tests for Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K) and pH, testing to a minimum of 10 cm soil depth.

Fertiliser Plan 

Your fertiliser plan is crucial, as this will address any soil fertility issues. Where soil fertility is below the recommended rate, it will require 2 to 3 bags of 10-10-20 to provide enough P to feed the sward, kick start early growth and allow the sward to reach its full potential. Early P is essential for root development, as it feeds the roots and the roots feed the leaf. Nitrogen (N) without P, only feeds the leaf and does not achieve the same response.

Grass Mixture Choice

According to Agritech’s Business Development Manager, Bil Ryan, once you identify your areas for reseeding, decide whether it will be used for grazing or silage, as this will influence your grass mixture type.

“Agritech’s Tipperary Grass Seed Range has a mix for every situation and has built an excellent reputation with farmers throughout the country for delivering optimal germination, establishment and increased yield in new grass leys,” states Bil.

Agritech’s flagship premium mixture, Tipperary Grass No. 4A is suitable for intensive paddock grazing, whereas Tipperary Grass No.2 can be used for a less intensive grazing system. Tipperary Grass No.5 is designed to produce up to five cuts of high quality forage as zero grazing or three cuts of silage and the traditional Tipperary Grass No.3 is ideal for two cuts of silage, plus shoulder grazing.

For further advice on reseeding or to choose a suitable grass mixture from the Tipperary Grass Seed Range, contact your local Agritech distributor.