Which alternative forage options could offer best quality and value for you?

Ruminant nutritionist Brian Reidy examines some of the most popular alternative forages, which, he says for many dairy and beef producers, could offer more efficient and cost-effective feeds.

Given the late spring, other options for quality forage production really should be considered.

Last week I wrote about silage production for the coming season; this week, I will look at alternative forages, which, for many dairy and beef producers, will represent more efficient and cost-effective feeds for their system.

After a very late spring in which full-time turnout to grass still hasn’t happened, we must now start to look at next winter's forage supply, with the knowledge that reserves have been eaten into and we need to optimise bulk and quantity for next winter.

As we all know, grass silage is getting more and more expensive every year, and unfortunately, its quality can be variable depending on weather, cutting date and grassland management/reseeding policy. Unfortunately, each year a large proportion of grass silages on Irish farms are not capable of achieving the desired performance.

Given that ground is currently saturated and very few have fertiliser out for silage, it is already difficult to see much quality grass being ensiled this year.

Given the late spring, other options for quality forage production really should be considered. They will all be planted over the coming four to six weeks, ideally, giving a decent window to get it right when weather improves.

When Plan B could make a good Plan A

Crops such as maize silage and wholecrop cereals provide high dry matter and starch contents. For many dairy and beef producers, there has been a realisation over the years that Maize silage is a better value and provides significantly better animal performance than grass silage-based diets. 

In most cases, the necessity to feed extra maize to cows due to low yields of silage in years gone by has opened their eyes to the huge merits of having more maize silage and perhaps less grass silage. Other alternative feeds such as Fodder Beet and Sugar Beet are also excellent energy sources well worth considering, to improve feed efficiency on farm.

The addition of a second forage source along with Grass Silage to any diet will increase forage Dry Matter Intake by between 10 and 15 %. This will result in reduced concentrate inputs being required. Many are now considering the option of eliminating grass silage entirely from their finishing diets.

Maize silage

Maize silage produces very high-quality forage when grown in appropriate sites. It encourages high dry matter intakes and animal performance. Where target yield is achieved the cost per tonne of dry matter and cost per 1000 UFL is significantly less than grass silage. 2023 proved to be an excellent year for maize growers and virtually every crop has tested and fed really well.

There are no rotational constraints with maize, and it utilizes slurry very well. Site selection, sufficient fertilizer, variety and weed control are critical factors in producing a successful crop of Maize. Maize is not suitable in some areas of the country, so get the right advice before growing a crop to avoid disappointment.

Maize is a forage/silage

On point to note for those in a derogation is the 80:20 rule. How ridiculous is it that the department of agriculture class maize silage as a tillage crop? The clue is in the name, it is a silage and most definitely a forage crop. Farming organisations need to lobby the department as a matter of urgency to get Maize silage correctly categorised as a forage. Over to you guys!!!!

Whole-crop cereal options

Whole-crop cereals, similar to maize silage, offer the opportunity to improve the returns from dairy and beef production. Whole crops can be made from wheat, barley, oats, hybrid rye and triticale. Producing a good quality whole crop means that the crop must be grown as you would grow a crop destined for the combine.

Cutting back on fertiliser, weed control, disease/pest control etc, is not cost-effective. The most critical part of the process is to get the harvest date right. The length of the harvest window will depend on the preservation method you choose.

Beet

Fodder beet and sugar beet are fantastic energy sources for livestock production. Most will not be in a position to grow beet themselves but now is the time to book it from a local producer for next winter. Beet can significantly boost performance in animals by promoting Dry Matter Intakes, resulting in improved live weight gain and milk yield while reducing concentrate requirements.

Feed cost considerations

Alternative forages provide a much more consistent quality product from year to year than Grass Silage. The technology is now there to help farmers produce these feeds on their farms. All of the alternatives produced efficiently will cost less than Grass Silage per 1000 UFL and will enhance animal performance.

Apart from that, the purchase of these alternatives from a specialised crop producer also remains a viable option in light of the forever variable cost of concentrates. This option is becoming more common as specialised tillage producers have identified the need to produce forages for livestock producers.

Plan now for next winter and calculate the tonnages required for the number of animals you will have next winter.

• Brian Reidy is an independent ruminant nutritionist at Premier Farm Nutrition.