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Early planning the key to managing summer forage shortages

With unpredictable weather seeming to cause forage shortages in at least part of the country virtually every year now, Trident’s Dr Michael Marsden looks at the options to minimise the impact.

Dealing with forage shortages is no longer just a concern for those farming in the south of the country, with the last few years having seen many areas across the entire UK affected by lack of spring or summer rainfall. The key to managing the situation, according to Trident technical manager Dr Michael Marsden, is to have strategies worked out, and additional feeds ordered, well in advance.

“Like any feed-related shortage, reacting when the problem arises is usually too late,” he states.  “It’s better than not reacting at all, but by far the best option is to plan ahead knowing that summer forage shortages are nowadays likely to turn up at some point. If not this year, maybe the next. Or the next.

“The challenge is that we’ve already seen issues relating to feed supply affect availability, with moist feeds selling out early last autumn, US maize gluten unlikely to be on sale for the rest of the summer due to GM issues and maize meal only available sporadically.”

And don’t gamble on the weather ‘averaging out’ through the year, with any dry periods countered by additional rain at other times during the spring and summer. It might happen, but there’s also a chance it might not, leaving livestock short of feed at a time when demand for feed (and prices) will be rising sharply.

 Dr Marsden’s advice is to make positive planning decisions early, and be ready to take advantage of any attractive feed deals which may be available following the traditional drop-off in demand following turnout. Good value contracts to take brewers’ grains and draff during the summer for clamping are often available, for example, with good volumes still available from the Scottish distilleries even if supplies appear to be tight in other areas

“Moist feeds are a great option to help counter grazing shortages, and a backup supply clamped now can either be used during the summer if needed, or held over until the start of winter feeding,” he explains. “Brewers’ grains availability may be limited, but the new Vivergo Fuels bio-ethanol plant in Hull is going to start production during the summer, so we should see some additional moist feed availability at some point, although initially only local to the plant.

“And if you’ve already secured moist feed contracts, consider increasing feed value and volume by mixing in one or two dry feeds with a loader bucket during clamping. Including sugar beet feed, soya hulls or wheatfeed, for example, helps retain nutrients normally lost in run-off and will extend potentially limited moist feed supplies.

“Feed prices are often keenest in the spring and early summer when demand tends to be lower, so pick up some ‘additional supplies’ when the opportunities arise to guard against any potential grazing shortage.”

In all cases, the priority should be to retain the best quality forage – silages and grazing – for early lactation and high yielding cows, switching heifers and those in later lactation onto alternative rations first. And if forage shortages look like they could be severe, save even the moist feeds for the best milkers and use straw-based rations for low yielders and youngstock.

“This straw must be processed, but if chopped to around 5cm to prevent sorting and included in a balanced ration, feeding up to 2kg/cow/day is perfectly acceptable,” Dr Marsden continues. “And balanced straw-based rations can be easily created for youngstock by adding a liquid feed, particularly one high in protein, such as Spey Syrup.

“Alternatively, use a lower protein liquid feed like Rouxminate topped up with bio-ethanol wheat distillers’ feed to supply the extra protein needed to support good growth. The important point is to still choose the best value feeds available, and the earlier you make those decisions, the better choice you’ll have.”

Table 1 shows examples of simple rations for heifers switched onto a straw-based ration to preserve the best quality forage for the milking herd. As a first reaction to slowing grass growth, it’s a change that can be made early, and without impacting on milk production.

Table 1 – Example straw-based rations for 10-15 month old bulling heifers

For the poorer performing cows in the herd there are a number of options, depending upon how serious the forage shortage becomes. Lower yielding cows are less efficient at converting feed into milk, with a higher maintenance requirement relative to milk output, so it makes sense to make these cows a secondary priority compared to those still milking well.

“Take the opportunity to cull those cows you’ve been deliberating about, and maybe a few that you were thinking about hanging onto for another year. Anything that can be done to free up feed for the high yielders to produce more milk helps keep income levels up.

“As a last resort it might even be worth drying off cows at a higher yield level than normal, then simply maintain body condition on low grade feeds through an extended dry period,” Dr Marsden adds.

Straw can be the basis of rations capable of supporting quite reasonable yields, with Table 2 giving examples suitable for cows yielding up to 20 litres/cow/day. Just be aware that the dry weather causing any forage shortage might also result in physically shorter cereal crops that yield less straw.

Table 2 – Predominantly straw-based rations for low yielders this summer (M+20 litres/cow/day)

“Straw is important for maintaining structure in high yielding rations and buffer feeds as well, so securing additional supplies could be vital, particularly if straw volumes are lower than normal,” Dr Marsden highlights. “One alternative is to consider oilseed rape straw, which is both cheaper than cereal straw and available earlier.”

Care is also needed to maintain the balance of rations fed to high yielders. There may be enough forage for these rations to remain unchanged, but if dwindling forage stocks have to be replaced with moist feeds or straights to maintain yields, problems can arise.

Additional digestible fibre may be needed to replace that lost from forage, for example, with some of the starch energy in the ration replaced by feeds such as sugar beet feed, soya hulls or distillers’ feeds, depending on which is available. And distillers’ feeds can also be useful in helping replace the high levels of protein found in early season grass.

“Perhaps the biggest danger for the high yielder is that the concentrate proportion of the diet can rise rapidly as buffer feeding is increased to counter a shortage of grazing, particularly if silage also starts running out,” Dr Marsden states. “Even if the overall diet is properly formulated for energy and protein, certain imbalances can still crop up.

“Feeding more concentrates – which have a higher energy content than forages – might result in less need for rumen-protected fats, for example. That’s great when it comes to reducing feed costs, but not if it’s at the expense of milk fat production, so consider strategic use of high-C16 protected fats like Butterfat Extra to keep butterfats above contract thresholds through any ration changes.”

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