Grazing Kale in situ as an alternative winter feed
With rising feed costs on concentrates and silage, farmers are seeking ways to reduce the higher costs associated with overwintering. Growing and feeding a Brassica crop, such as Kale has proved very successful for this Irish beef farmer. .
The farmer operates a calf to beef system purchasing dairy cross calves and selling males at less than 24 months and females at 18 months of age. Depending on market conditions some animals are sold at younger ages as forward stores.
To reduce the high feed costs during the winter period, when grass is available, a Brassica crop of Kale, using 4.5 kg/ha of Maris Kestrel, is sown in late May and available for grazing from November to early March. Estimated yields are 9-12t/DM/ha. The animals graze the Kale in situ using an electric fence as a moving grazing barrier. The key to maximum utilization and minimum waste is the daily management of moving the electric fence so as to provide fresh feed to the animals each day.Kale is a high protein diet (18-20% CP) and in order to maintain adequate roughage in the diet, silage bales are fed as a supplement in situ in the field.
In terms of economic sustainability, using Kale significantly reduces winter feed costs by eliminating concentrate purchases for a group of animals. In addition, there are very significant savings on cattle housing as this farmer does not have the accommodation facilities to keep these animals indoors over the winter.
Keeping the animals outdoors over the winter has proved to be very beneficial in terms of animal health and welfare. None of the animals every get sick or need treatment for pneumonia or any other type of disease.
Animal thrive and performance is somewhat dependent on the severity of the weather. However, when the animals go to grass in mid-March they tend to use compensatory growth during the peak yielding spring/summer grass growing season.
BovINE - Beef Innovation Network Europe
Ongoing | 2020-2022
- Main funding source
- Horizon 2020 (EU Research and Innovation Programme)
- Geographical location
- Ireland