As the year draws to a close, take stock of fodder reserves to see if there is adequate silage stocks to carry livestock through to turnout.

Mild conditions in October and early November extended grazing for many farmers, delaying housing. Hopefully, this will have eased the pressure on farms that were initially tight on silage.

As January gets under way, take 10 to 20 minutes and compete a fodder budget for the farm. It should be a simple exercise, so that it can be updated regularly. Outlined are five tips for a budget.

1. Use an online calculator

The easiest way to do a fodder budget is to use an online calculator or app, such as the one here.

2. Measure the clamp

To do a manual budget, measure the length, width and average height of the clamp in metres. You don’t need a measuring tape, just step it out and gauge the height of the clamp against yourself.

Multiply the three measurements to get cubic capacity. To convert this figure to freshweight tonnage, multiply by 0.6 for silage at 30% dry matter and 0.65 for silage closer to 25% dry matter.

3. Count up silage bales

Count silage bales and multiply by 750kg to 850kg (depending on bale weight) to get the tonnage, then add this figure to tonnage of pit silage.

4. Cattle demand

Next, work out what silage cattle are eating per day or month and how much they will consume until usual turnout date.

Autumn-calving suckler cows in milk eating 50kg/day will eat close to 1.5t/month. Dry spring-calving cows on 35kg/day will eat 1t/month.

Weanlings and light stores will eat close on 0.75t/ month. Add in an extra month for safety in the event of a late spring turnout.

For 30 autumn-calving cows that go to grass around 1 April, three months of silage feeding plus a one month safety net is roughly 180t of silage needed (30 cows x 1.5t/month x four months).

5. Silage balance

If the demand for silage exceeds the tonnage on farm, think about what options are available to stretch fodder reserves.

Whereas if silage stocks exceed cattle demand, there is enough fodder on farm to last until turnout and beyond.