Milk from grazed grass is the most profitable.
However, one of the biggest problems is availability, as most grasses require sufficiently high temperatures to initiate growth. Most dairy farmers are already familiar with New Zealand grazing systems and the use of the plate meter. For many years New Zealand plant breeders have focussed their breeding programmes on grasses with an extended growing season.
Grazing late into the autumn and turning out earlier in the spring shortens the winter feeding period and lowers costs. Extending the grazing season can only be achieved with grasses that can grow at lower than normal temperatures, these the breeders have identified as “Cool season active grasses” and have the potential to grow at lower temperatures than traditional European types.
New Zealand breeder PGG Wrightson Seeds the largest plant breeder in New Zealand and one of the most respected throughout the world has successfully bred grass varieties with the potential for cool season growth. After several years use in New Zealand these grasses have proved successful on the more progressive dairy farms in Ireland.
Now, through an exclusive agreement these varieties are available in the UK through the Yorkshire based seeds company Hurrells.
Hurrels managing director, Nick Gladstone said, “ Cool season active grasses are a major breakthrough in reducing costs for the dairy farmer.” He continued with a caution, ”Extending the grazing season does not increase overall annual yield – it transfers some of the surplus growth peak to either end of the season. It is important to choose free draining; dryer fields to allow the earlier spring turnout and those preferably closer to the parlour and housing. The total of grazing area sown with cool season grasses should not exceed 20% and the fields regularly monitored”.
For further information about “Cool season active grasses” and their role in producing milk from grass contact Nick Gladstone at Hurrell & McLean Seeds, telephone; 01377 271400.
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