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Tuesday, 17 February 2015


CONTENTS
DO IT NOW
Using muck on grazed pastures

Spreading muck onto grazing pastures will help boost grass growth and mitigate the increasing fertiliser costs if managed correctly.
Start by testing the soil and analysing the results to ensure the ground will benefit from extra nutrients. Muck has reasonable levels of P and high levels of K, but low levels of N, so extra N may be necessary to meet yield requirements. Applying muck can also help raise the levels of organic matter and improve soil structure.
Leave a gap between spreading and grazing of  one to two months to reduce the risk of disease and grass rejection by animals. Prior to grazing check there are no visible signs of solids.
Applying manure just before a period of rapid grass growth, for example in early spring or immediately after a cut of silage, will make best use of the available nutrients. 
HOW TO...
Turn out earlier

Turning stock out earlier can reduce feed and wintering costs, improve future grass yields and stimulate grass growth  – all of which increase the total liveweight gain from grass.
Early turnout doesn’t mean that all stock has to be turned out in one go; managing a steady stream of turn out in line with the availability of grazing is what makes this work.
Grazing silage fields early
Silage fields can be grazed earlier in the year to provide extra grazing and stimulate grass growth before they are shut up for conservation.
Research from Northern Ireland has shown that grazing until the beginning of March has no impact on silage yield or quality.
Is this something you practice or have considered?

EBLEX and DairyCo Grass Silage Seminar 
21 April
Stoneleigh, Warwickshire
The seminar will identify the research and knowledge gaps for grass silage production and use. Speakers will include researchers, consultants and producers.
Liz Genever will be speaking about grassland management at several events this month, including:
18 February
National Sheep Association Young Ambassadors in Worcestershire
26 February
Conference organised by Mole Country Stores in North Yorkshire

Welcome
The EBLEX Grazing Club is for all beef and sheep producers who want to:
- Improve grass yields and quality- Improve animal performance off grass- Cut production costs- Make more money
Our newsletter is full of topical information, ideas and suggestions on how to achieve these objectives.
As with any club, members can share and swap ideas on how they make the most of grass.
And we’d love to hear what you think, so join in with the Grazing Club discussion on Twitter #grazingclub or email us.
Dr Liz GeneverEBLEX livestock scientist

How to exploit the potential of grass was the theme at the Ulster Grassland Society Annual Conference in January.
There were many aspects discussed including pests and disease, best practice on farm and the BETTER Farm Beef Programme.

Mike Miller has travelled the world as part of his Nuffield Scholarship to find out how to increase sheep production from forage.
He’s shifted the focus on his farm and brought in technologies to help him make management decisions.
Mike is also investigating options for establishing herbal mixes at home and believes they will help to increase the liveweight gain of his lambs.

Charlotte Evans, Technical Project Manager at the British Grassland Society (BGS), highlights how important soil is in this month’s expert view.
She has put together some top tips on managing soils.
There’s information on soil compaction, erosion and how to maintain soil organic matter.

The soil is home to a quarter of all living land organisms from a wide range of taxa.
Nearly all soil organisms can’t make their own energy and so need to eat plant residues, soil organic matter or other soil organisms.
The majority of soil organisms are invisible to the naked eye so they are often observed by measuring what they do. Earthworms are the most beneficial macrofauna in UK soils, they’re engineers that make pores within the soil and also mix organic materials into the soil. 
Within the soil there are micro-organisms which are often grouped by size, they’re collectively known as soil biota. These organisms interact with one another – larger organisms often prey on the smaller organisms and there is a complex food web below ground.
Megafauna: 20 mm upward, e.g. rabbits and rodents.
Macrofauna: 2 to 20 mm, e.g. beetles and snails
Mesofauna: 100 micrometres to 2 mm, e.g. mites
Microfauna and Microflora: 1 to 100 micrometres, e.g. bacteria and fungi
On farms, soil organisms can work together with inputs to give more effective and resilient regulation of grassland systems. However, whilst there are some general principles, there is no one recipe for management that will put all soils in good health. 
To have healthy grassland soils, farmers should aim to:
• Increase organic manure inputs and provide a range of types – through careful manure management and use of composts
• Increase plant diversity – with grass/clover leys and other mixed species swards for grazing and conservation. Use mixed species for whole-crop silage
• Reduce tillage intensity – if soil structure is good, consider overseeding rather than ploughing for ley invigoration, get the timing of aeration or sward lifting right
EBLEX and DairyCo are launching a new website called Healthy Grassland Soils in March which will provide more details on soil biology...more updates in the next edition.

 
Are you on the distribution list for the new Feeding Club News?
The email newsletter is published every two months and is packed full of information on how to reduce feeding costs, understand different feeding o ptions and improve animal performance and product quality.
© Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board 2015
EBLEX is a division of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB)
EBLEX, AHDB
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Warwickshire
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