James Martin working round the family farm. \ Houston Green
ADVERTISEMENT
With cows housed all year round, silage is a fundamental part of James Martin’s system on his farm in Dromintee, Co Armagh.
An updated fodder budget prepared by Dairylink adviser Aidan Cushnahan found that there is enough silage on the Martin farm to last the milking herd and 25 dry cows at least eight months, and the youngstock five months.
Results for the first cut reflect the excellent weather conditions in May. Weather was difficult for later cuts and this led to delayed harvesting and lower energy (ME) values.
ADVERTISEMENT
To address this, the Martins are mixing first- and second-cut silage for the lactating groups on the farm, while third-cut silage is being allocated to heifer replacements and dry cows.
The milking herd is split into two feed groups. The high yielders are offered 42kg of silage, 6kg of a 24% crude protein blend and 4kg of caustic wheat. This diet is designed for maintenance plus 28l and cows are topped up with a 17% crude protein nut in a feed to yield system in the parlour.
The low yielding group are on 42kg of silage, 3kg of blend and 2.5kg of caustic wheat. This ration covers maintenance plus 18l and all cows in this group are offered 1kg of concentrate in the parlour on a flat rate basis.
Read more in this week's Irish Farmers Journal and online here.
Register for free to read this story and our free stories.
This content is available to digital subscribers and loyalty code users only. Sign in to your account, use the code or subscribe to get unlimited access.
The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
CODE ACCEPTED
You have full access to the site until next Wednesday at 9pm.
CODE NOT VALID
Please try again or contact support.
With cows housed all year round, silage is a fundamental part of James Martin’s system on his farm in Dromintee, Co Armagh.
An updated fodder budget prepared by Dairylink adviser Aidan Cushnahan found that there is enough silage on the Martin farm to last the milking herd and 25 dry cows at least eight months, and the youngstock five months.
Results for the first cut reflect the excellent weather conditions in May. Weather was difficult for later cuts and this led to delayed harvesting and lower energy (ME) values.
To address this, the Martins are mixing first- and second-cut silage for the lactating groups on the farm, while third-cut silage is being allocated to heifer replacements and dry cows.
The milking herd is split into two feed groups. The high yielders are offered 42kg of silage, 6kg of a 24% crude protein blend and 4kg of caustic wheat. This diet is designed for maintenance plus 28l and cows are topped up with a 17% crude protein nut in a feed to yield system in the parlour.
The low yielding group are on 42kg of silage, 3kg of blend and 2.5kg of caustic wheat. This ration covers maintenance plus 18l and all cows in this group are offered 1kg of concentrate in the parlour on a flat rate basis.
Read more in this week's Irish Farmers Journal and online here.
If you would like to speak to a member of our team, please call us on 01-4199525.
Link sent to your email address
We have sent an email to your address. Please click on the link in this email to reset your password. If you can't find it in your inbox, please check your spam folder. If you can't find the email, please call us on 01-4199525.
ENTER YOUR LOYALTY CODE:
The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
SHARING OPTIONS