This is a subscriber-only article
Some farmers in the west who are at risk of being short of silage are looking to either buy silage or “fodder stretcher” meal now.
It’s hard to know what the right thing to do is, as much of the silage available for sale in fodder-scarce parts of the west is poor at best – and definitely not suitable for milking cows.
On the other hand, meal fodder stretcher rations are being quoted at between €220 and €280/t, so not cheap either, especially when the price of barley is around €190/t. But options are limited when silage is scarce.
Straight products such as palm kernel expeller can be fed in higher quantities than meal and cost around €180/t.
Other options
Other options include buying beet, hay or silage from other regions and getting it hauled home on back loads.
It might be cheaper in the long run than buying poor quality silage and having to feed extra meal. If buying bales, make sure they are well sealed and free of ragwort and thistles.
Many bales were made in the last few weeks but they should be left at least three weeks before opening.
SHARING OPTIONS: