Feed and forage options for the coming winter

Maize is easy to re-ensile and can rolled in a clamp once delivered at any time, unlike grass silage, writes ruminant nutritionist Brian Reidy.

With the National Ploughing Championships now in the rearview mirror for another year, and the dark evenings now upon us, plans for winter feeding are well advanced around the country.

We will soon be approaching the last grazing rotation on many farms. Unfortunately, the weather has been less than ideal recently, and grass utilisation tailed off significantly with care needed to protect land for the rest of the grazing season.