The Essential Guideto Forage Crops

Home grown feeds can help to produce an excellent part of a mixedforage diet. Understanding the feed requirements of your animals willensure maximum returns.

Mixed forage diets will help increase intakes and ensure optimum rumenstability, improved feed utilisation and animal performance.

Many forages are now better understood leading to improved intakepredictions, and accurate assessments for both energy and proteinrequirements.

The opportunity for UK farmers is to exploit the use of home grownforages and reduce their cost of production.

• Improved profitability• Reduced reliance on purchased feed• Full traceability• Flexible cropping options• An excellent break crop & entry back

to grass• Extend the grazing season• Outwintering options• Low inputs

The essential guide to forage crops has been published to help farmers and growers plan an effective forage croppingprogramme. Although grass has to be the first priority to feeding livestock efficiently, forage crops can play an importantrole especially when grass growth dips in the summer months. Many of the crops featured in this guide also allowgrowers to extend the grazing seasons in both spring and autumn which can enhance profitability.

Conserved fodder crops such as Maize and Fodder beet also offer growers the ability to store and feed crops throughoutthe winter months, providing a fantastic opportunity to reduce costs.

THE VALUE OF MIXED FORAGE DIETSForage crops - features and benefits

The Essential Guide to Forage Crops

1

IFC Introduction

2 Our Breeding Programmes

3 What’s in this guide?

4 Fodder Beet

6 Kale

8 Stubble Turnip

10 Forage Rape

12 Swede

14 Forage Maize

16 Forage Rye

18 Forage Peas

20 Lucerne

22 Catch Crop mixtures

23 Chicory

24 Crop Rotations

25 Feeding Guidelines

26 Fertiliser Guidelines

27 Crop Summary Chart

28 Precision Drill Recommendations

IBC Contacts

Index

As one of the world’s major plant breeders – Limagrain arecontinuously striving to improve plant genetics to benefit cropproduction.

As an International cooperative owned by farmers we know that our

plant breeding skills can be used to improve the performance of key

varieties used for animal production.

We have Plant breeding programmes in many of the key crops groups

such as:

Maize – Varieties bred specifically for the UK

Fodder Beet – Varieties capable of delivering very high dry matter

production with clean, easily harvested roots.

Cereals – Varieties with excellent agronomic benefits

Forage Brassica – We currently have breeding programes for Swede,

Forage Rape and Turnip.

Oilseed Rape – superior varieties with excellent UK agronomic features

Grass – breeding high dry matter yielding varieties that can be cut and

silaged or grazed frequently.

Forage Rye – Varieties that can deliver high yield performance.

Peas – Forage, combining and vining varieties are bred in the UK.

Local KnowledgeOur local knowledge about UK farming practices and conditions ensures

we only select the best of the best for our own climatic conditions. Not

all varieties perform well in the UK’s varied climate and our breeding

and trials teams ensure that our varieties have been fully trialled and

tested before commercial sales are undertaken.

2

Our breeding programmes

Many of the varieties listed in this guide have been bred by

The James Hutton Institute in Dundee. They represent varieties

that have been bred in Britain for our conditions and offer an

excellent combination of both yield and disease resistance.

3

What’s in this guide

Fodder beet (Robbos) being lifted in December

Why grow the crop

A quick summary

about the crop benefit

Variety profilesTechnical description

about the key varieties

Crop suitabilityWhich animals are best

suited to utilise the

crop

Growing &sowing

How to successfully

grow the crop

Selection guideHow to select the

correct variety

Trial resultsLatest UK variety

trial data

Growing costs, yield & feed quality and

sowing informationEssential crop information

4

FodderBeet

Soil Type/Site Selection:The crop can thrive on a wide range ofsoils but a light to medium, free drainingfield is ideal. A soil pH of 7 is the targetand good accessibility is vital for heavyharvesting machinery.

Seedbed & Sowing Methods:Aim for firm, fine tilth with pre-Christmasploughing. Keep moisture loss to aminimum in the spring. Monogerm seedhas eliminated the need for labourintensive singling. However, allow forsome field losses if seedbed conditionsare poor. As a general guide soiltemperatures need to be at least 5 Cbefore sowing. Early April is a typicaldrilling date in the South. Delayed drillingleads to yield losses. Ensure that the seedis drilled to a depth of 2.5/3.0cm - use thedeeper figure for dry seedbeds. Aprecision drill is essential.

Fertiliser:This is a demanding crop in terms ofnutrients. All the fertiliser, except thenitrogen, is best applied in the autumn.The nitrogen can be applied immediatelyafter drilling. The use of slurry/FYM will bebeneficial, as is the application of sodiumon appropriate soil types. Trace elements(especially manganese and boron) areimportant to fodder beet.

Weeds, Diseases & PestControl:Some farmers may be prepared toundertake inter-row cultivations but mostnow prefer to rely on herbicides to controlweeds. It is vitally important to controlweeds as their presence can severelyreduce yields. Weed beets are veryundesirable and every effort must bemade to eliminate them.

Our seed is treated with both fungicideand insecticidal products to provideprotection during the establishment phase.The crop can be attacked by several pestsincluding slugs and wireworms whileaphids transmit virus yellows.

Harvesting:Although the crop continues to put on yieldinto the autumn this has to be balancedagainst the potential problems associatedwith late harvest. Some farmers havetheir own lifting equipment while otherswill use a contractor. Machines can bedivided into ‘leaf’ or ‘root lifters’ –whichever is used the tops must beremoved down to the base of the leafpetioles. Keep soil contamination to theminimum.

Why grow fodder beet?• Huge palatable yields

• Ideal replacement for cereals

• High energy feed

• Clamp and store overwinter

• Improved milk yields

• Palatable & nutritious

• Can be grazed in situ foroutwintering systems

Sowing periodLate March to end AprilDirect drill 100,000 seeds/ha 50,000 seeds/acre

Seed sold in one acre packs [50,000 seed units]

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Average dry matter yield13-15 tonnes/haAverage fresh yield80-90 tonnes/haDry matter 12-19% Crude protein 12-13% [mainly leaves]Digestibility value 78DMetabolisable energy12.5-13.5 MJ/kg DM

£1460 per hectareFresh weight £16 per tonneDry matter £115 per tonne

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Never lift too early.

Crops continue togrow up to end

October

ex

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5

RIBONDO (Rhizomania resistant)

Ribondo is a Rhizomania resistant varietythat has very erect leaves ideal forharvesting with either leaf lifting or sugarbeet equipment. Rhizomania is becominga major problem in some areas of the UK.The disease can cause unacceptableyield losses, and the use of Ribondo willalso help reduce the build-up anddistribution of this disease especially insugar beet growing areas.

BLAZEBlaze has the potential to produceexcellent dry matter yields with veryclean bright red roots. Blaze is amedium dry matter variety whichenables the roots to be fed whole orchopped. Low dirt contaminationensures high intakes with noscouring.

BLIZZARDBlizzard has the potential to produce veryhigh dry matter yields. Blizzard’scharacteristics make it ideal for harvestingwith sugar beet machinery and with itshigh dry matter content allows growersextra harvesting flexibility. It will produce avery palatable feed best fed to dairy or beefanimals because of the high DM content.

ROBBOSRobbos is a recent introduction. Ithad the highest dry matter yields inour trials and with a clean yellowroot and medium dry matter contentmakes it an ideal choice for bothdairy and beef production.

Variety Profiles

Root Storage:A pre-cleaner is recommended to removesoil contamination. Clamps should bechecked regularly for signs of any hotspots. The high DM varieties tend to storebetter on a long-term basis and are lessprone to damage.

Feeding:Fodder beet may be fed chopped or whole.Chopped beet should provide a better LWGin beef animals. Feeding the roots atground level can reduce the risk ofchoking. The roots have a high energy butlow protein content and make a goodsubstitute for grain in rations for dairycows, beef animals, sheep, pigs and deer.Crops have also been strip grazed inoutwintering systems.

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Crop Suitability

Data Source: Limagrain UK trials 1998-2011 (2 year data) Lowest Score = Cleanest root *No data availableRR = Rhizomania resistant

Preferred Varieties

Variety

100%=Tonnes/Ha 17.3 92.8

Blizzard 107 87 23.0 6.7 6.4 70.9 12.5

Robbos 106 99 20.2 * 6.6 59.3 *

Magnum 106 98 20.3 7.0 6.9 62.8 11.3

Ribondo RR 102 91 20.9 * 6.4 58.0 *

Blaze 102 104 18.5 6.8 5.8 56.7 9.4

Tintin 102 95 19.6 7.8 6.8 63.0 11.2

Jamon 100 104 18.1 7.2 6.2 56.3 10.1

Kyros (c) 100 100 18.7 7.1 6.6 57.0 8.9

Juana 98 91 20.0 7.5 6.5 61.1 10.8

Feldherr 94 114 15.6 7.0 6.6 48.9 7.7

Abondo 89 96 17.6 * 7.1 57.5 *

Colosse 84 87 18.1 * 4.1 59.9 *

Fodder BeetVARIETY SELECTION GUIDE

leaf lifter graze in situ /outwintering

sugar beet lifter

Robbos Blaze

Ribondo

Blizzard Blaze

What type of Harvester is available?

Fresh RootYield %

Dry MatterYield %

Dry MatterContent %

Establishment9=large

Top Size9=Large

% of Root inGround

Dirt Score

Trial Results

Bred by Bred by

Sowing periodApril – mid JulyPrecision drill 2kg/ha (750g/acre) Grade JDirect drill 4-5kg/ha (1-2kg/acre) Natural seed Broadcast 8kg/ha (3kg/acre) Natural seed

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Average dry matter yield8-10 tonnes/haAverage fresh yield60-65 tonnes/haDry matter 14-16%Crude protein16-17% fresh, 19-25% ensiledDigestibility value 68DMetabolisable energy10-11 MJ/kg DM

£496 per hectareFresh weight £9 per tonneDry matter £67 per tonne

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6

Kale

Soil Type/Site Selection:Kale grows best on a medium loam soilwith a pH of around 6.5. It needs a welldrained soil which is not compacted. Ifyou grow Kale on a very heavy soilremember that you might have problemsstrip-grazing in a very wet autumn/winter.

Seedbed & Sowing Methods:A firm, fine and level seedbed is requiredand this needs to be achieved withminimum moisture loss (especially on drysoils).

Kale seed should be sown between mid-April and mid-July. Early sown cropswhich establish well are more likely togive the highest yields. The seed can bebroadcast or sown with a precision or rootdrill. Under normal conditions a seed rateof 4-5 kg/ha should be adequate. Ifseedbed conditions are very dry, or thecrop is broadcast, then the rate can beincreased slightly as an insurance. Thetarget population is 70 plants/sq metrewhichever sowing method is used.

Fertiliser:Kale is a fast growing crop which willthrive well when provided with plenty oforganic material like slurry or FYM. For asoil index of 2 apply 100 units/ha each ofP and K to the seedbed (see page 26).

The amount of nitrogen required willdepend on the previous cropping and up to120 kg per ha may be needed after a runof cereals. After intensely grazed grassthe rate may fall back to 60kg per ha. The application may be split for earlysown crops – 65% in the seedbed and thebalance when the crop has reached aheight of 15/16cm. For direct-drilledcrops it is wise to increase the nitrogen byup to 25% to boost the crop in theestablishment phase.

Weeds, Diseases & PestControl:Several pre-emergence sprays areeffective in kale and products are alsoavailable for post emergence control ofbroad-leaved weeds.

In dry years, flea beetles can causeconsiderable damage to young seedlings.Crops should be monitored regularly, werecommend using only seed treated withCruiser. Slugs can be a problem in direct-drilled crops – slug pellets should beconsidered if appropriate. Rabbits andpigeons can also pose a threat and againsome specific attempts at control may benecessary.

Clubroot represents the main diseasethreat, it is soil borne so control is by theuse of good rotations. Try and avoid

Why grow kale?• Low cost option for finishing lambs

• Buffer feed for dairy cows duringdry summers

• Flexible utilisation period

• Excellent crude protein content

• High yields and economical to grow

• Outwintering systems

7

GRAMPIANThis is a variety bred in Scotland which willproduce excellent autumn or winter feed forboth sheep and dairy cows. Grampianexhibits very high dry matter yieldscombined with some club root resistanceand can be used in out wintering systems.

CALEDONIANCaledonian is the highest yieldingkale in our trials. Caledonian is clubroot resistant, which now enablesgrowers to continually sow kale onclub root infected sites. Caledonian’shuge yields makes it ideal forutilisation by dairy and beef cattle.

KEEPERKeeper is very winter hardy andexhibits good lodging resistance.Keeper is a medium/short type idealfor fattening lambs and providinghigh quality winter keep. It has lowSMCO levels (anti nutritionalchemical).

PINFOLDFast growing an ideal for earlysowings. Pinfold will provideexcellent yields in a short periodof time.

Variety Profiles

growing kale on any fields which have ahistory of clubroot, however the availabilityof the clubroot resistant variety Caledonianis a major breakthrough. Alternaria andmildew can affect crops but attacks areseldom too serious.

Feeding:The traditional method is to utilise the cropfresh either by strip or zero grazing. Stripgrazing behind an electric fence whichshould be moved once or twice a day.Allow a space of 3 metres per cow and anarea of grass for the animals to run backon.

Zero grazing – cutting the crop with aforage harvester – will help secure themaximum use of this excellent green feedwith minimal waste. The kale can then befed from a forage box or behind a barrier.Experts suggest that kale should provideno more than 30/35% of the daily drymatter intake for dairy cows.

Outerwintering – kale has been used verysuccessfully in outwintering systems.

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Crop Suitability

Trial Results

100%=Tonnes/Ha 9.7 71.3

Caledonian Improved M/Stem 120 123 13.7 0.6 106 72.2

Grampian Intermediate 115 115 14.0 0.7 102 75.3

Pinfold Intermediate 111 99 15.6 1.0 102 71.7

Bittern Intermediate 109 101 15.5 0.8 95 75.2

Voltage Intermediate 107 96 15.5 1.0 96 71.0

Keeper Short Grazer 102 90 15.7 1.2 85 75.2

Maris Kestrel (c) Short Grazer 100 100 13.9 1.1 74 77.4

Thousand Head Older Standards 98 84 16.6 1.1 99 71.2

Data Source: Limagrain UK & James Hutton Institute trials 1991-2010 Higher figure = more leaf

Preferred Varieties

Variety

Bred by Bred by

Total Dry Matter Yield %

Leaf: Stem RatioTotal Fresh Yield %

Dry Matter%

Height(cm)

Digestibility Value (%)

Type

KaleVARIETY SELECTION GUIDE

summer & autumn use winter use

Pinfold Keeper CaledonianGrampian

sheep & cattle sheep beef & dairy

Bred by Bred by

Sowing period[1] May to June [2] July to AugustDirect drill 5 kg/ha [2 kg/acre] Natural seed Broadcast 8 kg/ha [3 kg/acre] Natural seed

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Average dry matter yield3.5-5.0 tonnes/haAverage fresh yields38-45 tonnes/haDry matter 8-9% Crude protein 17-18% [mainly leaves]Digestibility value 68-70DMetabolisable energy 11 MJ/kg DM

£305 per hectareFresh weight £5 per tonneDry matter £66 per tonne

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StubbleTurnip

Soil Type/Site Selection:As most crops are grazed in situ a freedraining light loam or brash with a pH of6.5 is ideal.

Seedbed & Sowing Methods:If stubble turnips are to be sown aftergrass, a firm, fine seedbed will be requiredand traditional, plough-based cultivationswill be fine. If stubble turnips are drilledfollowing an arable crop, a cereal forexample, then tined cultivations, discing orrotovation can often replace the plough. In all cases it is vital that soil moisture isnot lost.

Stubble turnips should be sownapproximately 12-14 weeks before theyare to be utilised. If sown in April, afterforage rye, Italian ryegrass or an earlyspring fallow, turnips are very useful forfinishing off spring lambs or feeding otherstock.

Stubble turnips also fit in well when sownin mid-June after an early hay/silage cutfor autumn feeding but they are nowincreasingly being used for autumnsowing on cereal stubbles.

Autumn sowings in the northern half of thecountry and on all uplands should becompleted by the end of July. In the south,stubble turnips should be sown by mid-August with early September thelatest date one should consider.

For crops drilled into broken stubblessowing rates will vary from 4.5-6.0 kg/hadepending on soil conditions and time ofdrilling.

Seed which is broadcast should go in atnot less than 7-8 kilos/ha.

Fertiliser:An application of 80 kg of nitrogen, 25 kgof phosphate and 25 kgs of potash per hais usually sufficient for this crop. Certainly,a dressing of between 60-90 kg ofnitrogen/ha is especially important whenthe crop is being sown after a cereal. Thefertiliser should be worked well into theseedbed. A top dressing of nitrogen (SeePage 26) 3-4 weeks after sowing canboost crop growth.

Feeding:The stubble turnip crop is an attractivesource of very palatable and easy to digestfodder. Both cattle and sheep should beintroduced gradually to the crop andbetween grazings be able to run-back ongrass or have access to grass silage. It isalso advisable to have hay or straw onoffer prior to each grazing particularly inthe case of dairy cows. Allow stock aboutthree weeks to fully adjust to stubbleturnips so it is a good idea to introduceanimals to the crop gradually.

Why grow stubble turnip?• Fast growing catch crop

• Autumn or winter feed

• Finishing lambs

• Summer buffer feed for dairy cows

• Economical to grow

• Flexible sowing options

• Helps reduce winter feed costs

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RONDORondo is a green skinned variety, suitablefor sheep or cattle. It has a very leafygrowth habit, with excellent diseaseresistance and can be utilised fromSeptember to early February. Rondo hasexcellent root anchorage which helpsreduce wastage in the field

DELILAHThis exciting recent introductionwhich has out-performed manyexisting varieties in our trials for anumber of years. Delilah is ideal forfattening lambs and will producehuge white tankard shaped bulbs.Good resistant to mildew.

SAMSON (Tetraploid)Samson can produce huge tankardshaped purple roots which are verypalatable to both sheep and cattle. Intrials Samson has shown to bepreferentially grazed which canlead to higher intake and live weightgains.

TYFON (hybrid)

Tyfon is ideally sown in the springand utilised in the summer monthswhen grass growth generallydeclines. Tyfon should not be sowntoo early as it is susceptible tobolting. Tyfon’s growth habit is veryleafy with regrowth potential.

Variety Profiles

Throughout the grazing period adequatemineral supplements should be fed to allstock.

Although the DM content of both the rootand the leaf is low the quality of this DM isvery good.

Livestock Intake:A dairy cow will eat approximately 22 kgin a 2-3 hour grazing period and a lowlandewe about half that amount in a day. Soan average autumn crop of 40 tonnes/ha(after allowing for wastage) should provideone days grazing for 500 cows or 1000ewes. With beef animals an intake of 25kg/head/day should give liveweight gainsin the order of 0.5 to 0.75 kg/head. As aprecaution against taint, dairy cows shouldbe fed stubble turnips immediately aftermilking – and remove them from the cropat least three hours before the nextmilking. Cattle should strip graze the cropbehind an electric fence to reducewastage. With sheep good quality nettingcan be used to achieve the same aim.

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Crop Suitability

summer with regrowth

autumn

Tyfon (hybrid)

DelilahSamson

winter

Rondo

Stubble TurnipVARIETY SELECTION GUIDE

Trial Results

100%=Tonnes/Ha 5.0 48

Delilah Tankard 102 106 131 80 6.6

Barkant (c) Tankard 100 100 100 100 5.4

Samson (Tet) Tankard 99 107 120 85 5.6

Rondo Leafy 87 88 93 89 6.2

Dynamo Round 82 87 96 72 4.7

White Star Round 80 80 72 89 6.0

Avalon Tankard (78) (64) (63) (94) (*)

Tyfon (Hybrid) Leafy 78 75 59 97 4.4

Appin Leafy 72 78 52 92 6.9

Data Source: Limagrain UK trials 1987-2011 ( ) = 2 year data *No data available

Preferred Varieties

Variety Total Dry Matter Yield %

Leaf Dry Matter Yield %

Total Fresh Yield %

Root Dry MatterYield %

Mildew Resistance9=Best

Type

Sowing periodMay to end AugustDirect drill 6 kg/ha (2.5kg/acre) Natural seed Broadcast 8-10kg/ha (4kg/acre) Natural seed

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Average dry matter yield3.5-4.0 tonnes/haAverage fresh yields24-35 tonnes/haDry matter 11-12%Crude protein 19-20%Digestibility value 65DMetabolisable energy10-11 MJ/kg DM

£408 per hectareFresh weight £12 per tonneDry matter £107 per tonne

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ForageRapeandHybrids

Soil Type/Site Selection:As most crops are grazed in situ a freedraining light loam with a pH of 6-6.5 isideal. Forage rape has a very vigorousgrowth habit and is very often used inupland reclamation projects where itsability to survive and grow on relativelypoor soils and exposed sites is wellknown.

Seedbed & Sowing Methods:Forage rape makes an excellent breakcrop between grass leys, if this rotation isused a firm, fine seedbed is required.Forage rape can also be sown after cerealharvest where tined cultivations, discing orrotavation will suffice.

Whichever method you choose, rollingafter sowing will consolidate the seedbedand help reduce moisture loss. Seedshould be drilled at 6 kg per ha orbroadcast at 8-10 kg per ha.

Fertiliser:Forage rape will benefit from applicationsof FYM or slurry before sowing. If this isunavailable then 60-90kg of Nitrogen,25kg P & 25kg K per hectare into theseedbed should be sufficient for the crop.If the crop looks ‘hungry’ after 4-5 weeksfrom sowing then a top dressing of 75 kgper ha of nitrogen can be applied. Highapplication of N can be detrimental tostock intakes (see page 26).

Why grow forage rape?• Fast growing leafy catch crop

• High protein content

• Longer lasting than stubble turnips

• Winter hardy hybrids available

• Fattening lambs

• Flexible sowing period

• Sheep, Dairy or Beef production

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HOBSONHobson is the variety for finishing lambs.Hobson has excellent resistance topowdery mildew, a disease which canmake some crops unpalatable leading to ahigh wastage factor. Hobson is verypalatable and digestible. Bred byLimagrain and fully proven on livestockfarms throughout the UK.

HUNGRY GAPFor later use Hungry Gap’sexceptional winter hardiness willensure crops can be used in Januaryand February. It is best sown in Juneor July and its growth habit is kalelike in appearance.

INTERVAL Rape/Kale HybridWhen it comes to filling the gap in yourwinter feed programme Interval rape/kalehybrid can really boost your profits.Interval’s exceptional yield potential,disease resistance and palatability is idealfor fattening lambs or dairy cows. Intervalis very fast to establish with some cropsready to utilise within 10-12 weeks fromsowing.

Variety Profiles

Feeding:Forage rape crops can be ready to utilisebetween 13-15 weeks from sowing. Theyare ideally used for fattening lambs orflushing ewes and can be lightly grazed bycattle. As with any brassica crop, feedingshould be introduced gradually over a 2-week period. Ideally there should be anarea of grassland to allow stock to ‘runback’ onto along with access to hay orstraw and water.

Forage rape is also the ideal companion tostubble turnips, the two sown together canbe fed successfully with the forage rapeadding extra crude protein content andwinter hardiness.

Many farmers have successfully mixedapproximately 250-500g of forage rapeseed into their grass seed mixtures,allowing them to be grazed while theyoung grass seedlings continue toestablish underneath.

Forage rape can also be mixed with Italianryegrass to create a cleaner autumn keep.

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Crop Suitability

Trial Results

100%=Tonnes/ha 3.8 28.9

Interval (Hybrid) 106 119 10.7 8

Hobson (c) 100 100 11.9 8

Swift (Hybrid) 99 114 10.8 *

Emerald 93 97 11.6 7

Stego 91 92 11.9 *

Winfred 86 87 11.9 *

Redstart (Hybrid) 84 86 11.4 *

Pasja 63 73 10.7 *

Data Source: Limagrain UK trials 1990-2011 (2 year data) *No data available

Preferred Varieties

Variety

summer/autumn

late winter

Hungry GapInterval(hybrid)

winter

HobsonInterval(hybrid)

Forage RapeVARIETY SELECTION GUIDE

Total Dry Matter Yield % Total Fresh Yield %

Dry Matter%

Powdery Mildew Resistance 9 = best

Only choose varieties that have good

disease resistancewhich will lead to

higher intakes

expert advice

Bred by Bred by

Sowing periodApril-JunePrecision drill 350g-850g /ha [150g-350g / acre]Grade H Direct drill 3 kg/ha [1 kg/acre] Natural seed Broadcast 5 kg/ha [2 kg/acre] Natural seed

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Average dry matter yield7-10 tonnes/haAverage fresh yield70-90 tonnes/haDry matter 10-13%Crude protein 10-11%Digestibility value 82DMetabolisable energy12.8-13.1 MJ/kg DM

£403 per hectareFresh weight £5 per tonneDry matter £62 per tonne

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Swedes

Soil Type/Site Selection:The crop can be grown on a wide range ofsoils including sandy loams, silts, peat orclay loams. The desirable soil propertiesneeded are – ease of working, goodaeration, good structure and sounddrainage. Avoid soils with pans andensure a pH of around 6.5

Seedbed & Growing Methods:The majority of swede crops are nowsown with precision drills which require alevel seedbed. Early drilling in April shouldbe made with minimal cultivation passesto reduce compaction. Later drillings inMay/June are often made in hot, dryconditions so try and undertake theseedbed cultivations in early spring toreduce soil moisture loss. Weeds shouldbe eliminated between seedbedpreparation and sowing.

Seed should be sown at 1-2cm depth andleft well firmed on the top.

Precision or space drills are capable ofaccurate placement of individual seeds(e.g. Stanhay Webb). Swede seeds arenaturally spherical, however, they aregraded in size using a nationally agreedcode letter system of ‘H’ (1.75mm-2.00mm).

Why grow swedes?• Excellent high energy winter feed

• Low production costs

• Finishing lambs or wintermaintenance

• High dry matter yields

• Cost effective (even where yieldsare only moderate)

Rows should be 38-42cm apart. The idealspacing within the row is generallyassumed to be 15cm. Spacings forvarieties may vary to achieve the idealmarketable size of the roots. The closerthe spacing the smaller the bulb and laterharvesting can be delayed without theroots becoming too large.

Early varieties (low DM) can be sown fromearly April to late May. The varieties forutilisation in late winter should be sownmid-April to mid-June.

Fertiliser:Fertiliser should be applied into theseedbed. Swedes are responsive to Boronwhich should be applied to soils with adeficiency (see page 26).

Weeds, Diseases & PestControl:There are a number of pests which attackthe swede crop from sowing through tomaturity. In order to maximise cropestablishment and minimise crop damageit is advisable to sow treated seed. Ifswedes are sown for culinary use it isessential that superficial mining ortunnelling from cabbage root fly becontrolled, as is the internal damage fromturnip root fly.

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LOMONDHigh fresh and dry yields make thisvariety ideal for fattening lambs postChristmas. Lomond has both powderymildew and club root resistance and trialsshow it suffers less from rots and splits inits root.

INVITATIONInvitation is a very uniform, club rootresistant variety, ideal for utilisation afterChristmas. Invitation also has excellentresistance to powdery mildew and willproduce large leaves for extra grazingpotential. Invitation is winter hardy and issuitable for sheep or cattle.

BRORAA good looking deep purple skinnedvariety, Brora can be grazed early in theautumn or used for the prepack marketas an early harvested crop. Brora has ahigh marketable yield and is fully triedand tested in the UK. Brora has lowresistance to powdery mildew.

GOWRIEThis is a variety bred in Scotland. Gowrie isa variety that can be utilised pre or postChristmas. It can produce high dry matteryields and exhibits good resistance to bothclub root and powdery mildew.

Variety Profiles

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Crop Suitability

Trial Results

Preferred Varieties

Variety

The major disease to watch for is clubrootwhich affects the root system – themisshapen roots can be completelyunsaleable in culinary situations.

Attacks of mildew on the leaves willreduce yield and may affect the cropspalatability during in situ grazing.

Feeding:Most fodder swede crops are grazed insitu. However, it is important to rememberto select a variety (or varieties) to coverthe period you wish to graze. It isadvisable to use an electric fence toreduce wastage. Forage swedes can belifted and the roots stored in a clamp. Theroots need to be clean and free of soil andtry not to store any damaged roots as thiswill encourage fungal diseases.

SwedeVARIETY SELECTION GUIDE

late winter use

GowrieBrora

Invitation

sheep & cattle

winter use

Lomond

sheep

autumn and early winter

Data Source: Limagrain UK trials and James Hutton Institute 1990-2010

Total Dry Matter Yield %

Type Total Fresh Yield %

Dry Matter%

Root Shape9=best

Mildew Resistance9=best

100%=Tonnes/ha 9.78 89.6

Gowrie Dual Purpose 118 119 11.0 9 7

Lomond Dual Purpose 111 109 11.3 9 7

Ruby Forage 107 102 11.7 7 5

Invitation Forage 106 94 12.6 8 6

Brora Culinary 100 106 10.4 3 7

Ruta Otofte (c) Forage 100 100 11.6 4 5

Magres Culinary 100 93 12.2 7 6

Helenor Culinary 96 93 11.6 3 7

Marian Dual Purpose 96 97 11.0 5 5

Bred by Bred by Bred by Bred by

Sowing periodMid April to mid MayPrecision drill only 106,000 seeds/ha 42,000-50,000 seeds/acre

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Average dry matter yield15-18 tonnes/haAverage fresh yield45-54 tonnes/haDry matter 30-35% Crude protein 9.5%Digestibility value 75DMetabolisable energy11.5 MJ/kg DM

£1155 per hectareFresh weight £28 per tonneDry matter £100 per tonne

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ForageMaize

Soil Type/Site Selection:The limiting factor with maize is thenumber of heat units available to maturethe crop. Consequently, fields should facesouth, if possible, and growers should avoidhigh altitude sites. As a general rule 200metres above sea level is the cut off pointbut higher sites have been successful inotherwise favourable locations. Selectlight, drier soil types – avoid heavy, poorlydrained fields especially those with frostpockets or a heavy weed problem. Goodaccess for heavy machinery is vital.

Seedbed & Sowing Methods:Ideally, plough in the autumn and sub soilto improve structure. Avoid soil compactionat all costs. The crop requires a firm, finetilth and try to retain loose soil moisturewhen preparing the seedbed in the spring.With maize it is important not to drill tooearly. The soil temperature needs to havestabilised at about 10°C which willnormally equate to a sowing windowbetween mid-April to mid-May.

Weeds, Diseases & PestControl:There are a number of pests and diseaseswhich can attack a maize crop. Our verycomprehensive technical guide to foragemaize provides very detailed information onall aspects of this subject. Please telephoneor e-mail us for a copy today.

Harvesting:Clearly, the start of the forage maizeharvest depends on the geographic area.The individual varieties and the siteselected will both influence the harvestdate. Harvest dates will vary, depending on

the growing conditions, the site’s potentialand the variety chosen. Harvesting shouldtake place when the whole plant DM isbetween 30-35%, normally mid September- mid October. Harvesting is usuallyundertaken by a contractor.

Optimum cutting height is about 20cmsfrom the ground and the silage should bechopped to commensurate with obtaining areasonable consolidation in the clamp.

The final stage of the process – the fillingand sealing of the clamp – is absolutelycritical.

Roll the clamp continually and then seal itas quickly as possible. Make sure theclamp is properly consolidated using aheavy tractor and that the covering sheet isproperly weighted down.

Feeding:Almost any feeding system can be adaptedso that maize can be added to the ration.Increasing the level of maize in a ration willraise the DM intake.

The basic rules when feeding maize are tointroduce the crop gradually into the ration,ensure that there is sufficient long fibre,keep the silage face tight and avoidoverheating. The key nutrient for whichmaize is grown is starch and maize starchis more slowly degradable than mostforms, which makes it ideal for feeding tohigh yielding dairy cows. Fresh calvers andhigh yielders make the best use of maizeand the crop is ideal for both growing andfinishing cattle.

Why grow forage maize?• Relatively low production cost

• A single cut harvest

• High DM value

• Extra energy

• Increased forage intake

• Higher profits

• Consistent Forage quality

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Providing your farm is in a suitable location there are several key reasonswhy maize should be included in your home-grown forage croppingprogramme. They include:

Relatively low production costMaize has a relatively low cost of production (per tonne of DM) compared toother forage crops - such as a medium term grass ley cut for silage.

Utilisation of organic manureA field earmarked for maize can provide an excellent home for FYM or slurry.This reduces the cost of growing the crop.

A single cut harvestA well-grown crop of maize should yield between 15-18 tonnes of DM/ha andthis will be achieved in one convenient cutting operation usually between midSeptember and mid October.

High DM valueIn an average season and when grown in a suitable location your crop of foragemaize should have a DM value of around 32-35%. The loss of effluent shouldbe minimal with a well-made crop.

Extra energy Under UK conditions forage maize crops should have an ME ofaround 11.5 MJ/kgDM. The big advantage is that much of the energy is storedin the grain in the form of starch - which is highly digestible.

Increased forage intake When you first introduce maize into the diet you willnotice very quickly that the crop encourages a significant increase in forageintake. The fact that maize is extremely palatable - as well as highly digestible- helps to account for this.

Consistent forage quality Compared to a clamp of grass silage your stock ofmaize silage will have a very consistent quality from opening the face tofinishing it. It is the single harvest operation that helps achieve this consistency -along with the relatively stable quality retained in the field over several weeks.

Higher profits At the end of the day you grow maize because you want toimprove and enhance your profitability. Maize achieves this by combining ahigh yield with excellent feed quality and top class intake characteristics. This,in turn, means cheaper production of meat and milk.

Fodder beet not only has one of the highest energy levels but alsohas the potential to produce more dry matter yield per hectare thanany other forage crop. In terms of total energy production per hectareonly forage maize comes close to the performance of fodder beet.

Many farmers have already recognised the benefits of feeding fodderbeet but are restricted by traditional storage methods to only usefodder beet for part of the year.

However this doesn’t have to be the case. Co-ensiling fodder beetwith maize produces an energy rich feed that can be used all yearround.

Contamination with soil and stones is to be avoided so the techniqueis not suitable for very heavy clay soils, unless the beet can bewashed.

Why ensile fodder beet and maize together?

• Possible to feed all year round

• Increased energy concentration in feed

• Significantly increases the dry matter intake of forage

• Reduced dependence on cereals and concentrates

• Stable and uniform feed throughout the year

• Reduced ensiling costs as harvest and silage making performed inone operation

• Reduced feed delivery cost as no daily chopping or cleaningrequired

If you would like further information about Beta Maizeplease contact us for a full technical sheet

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= BETA MAIZE SILAGE

+NEW

FEEDING CONCEPT

Sowing periodSeptember to October Direct drill 185 kg/ha [75 kg/acre] pure sown or 125 kg/ha [50 kg/acre] Forage Rye & 17kg/ha [7 kg/acre] Italian Ryegrass

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Average dry matter yield5-6 tonnes/haAverage fresh yields20-24 tonnes/haDry matter 25%Crude protein 11-12%Digestibility value 67DMetabolisable energy10M/kg DM

£339 per hectareFresh weight £12 per tonneDry matter £78 per tonne

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ForageRye

Soil Type/Site Selection:As forage rye is primarily grown for itsability to deliver very early grazing in theearly spring it is essential to make surethat the right field is selected. A weed-free sheltered, well-drained fieldis ideal and if it has a southerly facingaspect then even better. Although foragerye will grow on a very wide range of soiltypes it is best to avoid very exposed orbadly drained fields.

Seedbed & Sowing Methods:The seedbed for the forage rye should bereasonably firm and well consolidated. Aseed rate of between 160-185 kg/ha (65-75 kg/acre) is adequate under mostcircumstances and the seed should bedrilled to a depth of 3.5-5.0 cm.

Cross drilling the forage rye usually helpsto promote a thicker stand and directdrilling is an option if required. Directdrilling will eliminate soil disturbance andwill give a much firmer footing for thestock in the spring.

Forage rye is a catch crop so it can slot inbetween say a cereal crop and then befollowed by a crop of forage peas, fodderbeet or kale.

Drilling date can vary with the locality but

Why grow forage rye?• Early turnout (reducing

overwintering costs) for cows

• Winter sheep keep

• Flexible sowing options after maizeor cereals

• Zero grazing and Big bale options

• Helps mop up residual nitrogen and prevents soil erosion

in general aim to get the seed in theground between mid-August and lateSeptember. This ensures that the cropgets well established before the wintersets in.

Some farmers mix Italian ryegrass withtheir forage rye so that the spring grazingprogramme can be prolonged. If youadopt this option use a sowing rate of17kg/125kg/ha respectively. Somefarmers have also direct drilled forage ryeinto a permanent pasture. However youuse forage rye it will enable you tosqueeze extra production out of your land.

Weeds, Diseases & PestControl:No herbicides should be needed and thecrop suffers from few pests and diseases.

Any leatherjackets, wireworms or slugswhich are seen should of course becontrolled using the appropriate chemical.

Feeding:Forage rye should not be allowed to enterthe winter in a very proud state and in amild autumn, crops sown in good time canbe lightly grazed in late November or earlyDecember. Providing the grazing is not toosevere this operation (carried out when thecrop has around 10/12 cm of growth) will

VarietyProfiles

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Crop Suitability

encourage tillering, increase winterhardiness and boost the amount of greenmatter produced in the spring.

If you are grazing dairy cows on forage ryethen the crop length needs to be about 30-35cm. For sheep the crop can be alittle shorter.

If you graze early enough then you maywell get a second flush of growth beforeyou need to plough out the field for thefollowing crop.

Controlled grazing, using an electric fenceis very important to avoid excessivewastage.

Another option which some farmersexploit is to zero graze the crop. Thisavoids having to take the stock onto thefield – which in wet weather can helpreduce poaching.

To help you plan your feed requirementsyou should work on the basis that onehectare has the potential to provide twoweeks grazing for 25 cows or 50 lactatingewes.

HUMBOLTHumbolt was purpose bred toproduce an ‘early bite’, in fact itsspring growth can be up to threeweeks earlier than Italianryegrass. Humbolt’s excellenttillering capacity and earlyvegetative growth ensuresmaximum intakes and palatability.Humbolt has excellent winterhardiness and can recover quicklyafter grazing or cutting.

Humbolt is UK proven and canthrive on a wide range of soiltypes.

Bred by

Cutting a lush cropof Humbolt foragerye which was thenconserved as bigbale silage

Some crops can begrazed lightly,

pre-Christmas toprovide extra forage.

expert advice

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Sowing periodMarch to late June Direct drill 125 kg/ha (50kg/acre)Broadcast 150 kg/acre (60kg/acre)

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Average dry matter yield8-10 tonnes/haAverage fresh yield37-50 tonnes/haDry matter 20-25%Crude protein 18-20%Digestibility value 62-64DMetabolisable energy10.5 MJ/kg DM

£708 per hectareFresh weight £27 per tonneDry matter £102 per tonne

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ForagePeas

Soil Type/Site Selection:Generally speaking forage peas can begrown on a very wide range of soils –fields need to be very well drained (peasdo not like ‘wet feet’) and have a pH of 6.0or above.

Seedbed & Sowing Methods:Sowing date is somewhat flexible as itdepends on where the crop is to fit in therotation. It can be sown as early asMarch/early April in the south and a littlelater in the north. The minimum (stable)soil tolerance temperature required is 8°C.Bear in mind that late sowings (after midsummer) are unlikely to yield as well asearly crops.

Fertiliser:Forage peas are leguminous so will fixtheir own nitrogen. However, a smalldressing of nitrogen will often bebeneficial at the establishment phasedepending on the existing nutrient statusof the soil.

Weeds, Diseases & PestControl:In good conditions forage peas willproduce a dense canopy which willsmother weeds very efficiently. However,it is good husbandry to ensure that thefield is as weed free as possible from theoutset.

Why grow forage peas?• Very high protein content (18-20%)

• Easy to harvest using forage machinery

• Suitable for undersowing new grass leys

• Impressive field performance

• Organic situations

• Some nitrogen fixation to enhance soiland next crop

• Excellent break crop

Bird damage (mainly pigeons and rooks)can be substantial where fields are in ahigh-risk area. Damage will be minimisedby the speedy establishment of the cropso sowing into optimum seedbedconditions is vital. The use of bird scaringdevices may well be essential on sitesprone to bird strikes.

Harvesting:Forage peas can be cut and clamped, cutand baled or grazed in situ. For cropsdestined for cutting the peas should beharvested when they are still floweringand the plants have formed but not filledtheir first pods. Wilting for 24/48 hours isrecommended and precision chopping isessential. The use of an appropriateadditive is a very sound move to helpensure a good fermentation in the clampor the bale.

Generally speaking, silage made from amixture of peas and cereals will be lessprone to poor preservation – thedisadvantage is that such a mixture ismore likely to deteriorate faster at the siloface during feeding. This will certainly bethe case if the material has not beenchopped very short or consolidatedefficiently.

A good crop of forage peas will yieldbetween 40-50 tonnes of green matter perha (at 20% DM) and this is, of course,achieved with a single cut.

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Variety Profiles

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If you plan to strip graze your crop then make sure the whole process is controlled by anelectric fence to reduce wastage and control intake.

Feeding:Although some experts believe that forage peas are a ‘bloat free’ crop (due to theircontent of tannin) it will be sensible to introduce stock to the crop gradually and, forsafety, it is important to monitor animals regularly while they are grazing.

Like all legumes, forage peas are very palatable and their judicious use in the dietshould promote a higher voluntary intake.

Magnus can be undersown with a grass ley;this can greatly reduce

the period of time anew ley is out of

production.

expert advice

MAGNUSMagnus is a semi-leafless variety which ensures thecrop is self supporting reducing the damaging effect oflodging, often seen in traditional full leaved varieties.

Magnus is very fast growing and can be harvestedbetween 11-14 weeks from sowing. Because of itsgrowth habit (semi-leafless and open to the light)Magnus crops are ideally suited for undersowing with anew grass ley.

Magnus is a true catch crop with tremendous flexibilityand is UK proven.

FIJIFiji is a semi leafless brown pea that can be ideally beused for forage and whole cropping. Crops can be readyfor silaging between 13-14 weeks from sowing and Fijigrows well with spring barley to produce a higherstarch feed.

ARABLE SILAGE MIXTURESThese mixtures contain different combinations of both cereals and peasthat can provide a valuable source of protein and starch. The ensiledcrop can provide excellent winter feed rations for dairy, beef and sheep.

The crop can produce excellent yields from a short growing period ofapproximately 13 –16 weeks. The silage combines high intake potentialand can be used as part of a mixed forage diet. The pea content ofthese mixtures can help increase the protein content. Arable silagemixtures can be under sown with a new grass ley to further maximisethe use of your land.

ProsileA proven blend of Forage peas Magnus and Spring barley which canproduce a quality silage high in protein content.Contains : 60% Magnus pea 40% Spring barley

Protein PlusA traditional blend of Spring oats, barley and Magnus forage peaIdeally suited for use in a mixed forage diet.Contains: 35% Spring oats, 40% Spring barley, 25% Magnus forage pea

Sow at 125-150 kilos per hectare - under sown with grass175-200 kilos per hectare - for best results

Flowering

Mange Tout

Green Pea

Soft Rubbery

Hard Rubbery

Hard Dried Pea

Always use the first truss to make your harvest assessment

Arable Silage

Wholecrop

Combining Peas

Sowing

HARVESTING STAGES OF FORAGE PEAS

Bred by Bred by

Sowing periodApril to late July Direct drill 20-30kg/ha (8-12kg/acre)Broadcast 35 kg/ha (14kg/acre)

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Average dry matter yield8-10 tonnes/haAverage fresh yields37-50 tonnes/haDry matter 20-25%Crude protein 18-20%Digestibility value 62-64DMetabolisable energy10.5 MJ/kg DM

£708 per hectareFresh weight £27 per tonneDry matter £102 per tonne

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Lucerne

Soil Type/Site Selection:Lucerne can be grown on a wide variety ofsites and soil types. The main criteria is toestablish on a site where a fine and firmseedbed can be established. Lucerne willnot in general tolerate a waterlogged soiland this is commonly the cause of die outover winter. For this reason heavy sitestend to be avoided. Well draining heaviersoils however can provide very successfulsites where good seedbeds can beestablished and compaction is avoided.

Sowing Date:Lucerne can be sown from April rightthrough the spring and summer. Sowingsin the late summer will result in heaviercrops in the following spring. However, thelater sowings carry a greater risk ofestablishment failure due to the onset ofcooler growing conditions in the autumn.Failure to enter the winter with strongplants is likely to result in excesswinterkill. For this reason crops in theMidlands and further North are bettersown in the spring. Crops in the Southernhalf of England however can beestablished with great benefit in thesummer. The latest safe sowing dateshould be considered to be 1st September.Remember sufficient soil moisture isessential for generating successfulestablishment and this can be a problemwith summer sowings.

pH:Lucerne is one of the few crops which willthrive on a soil with a high pH. Adequatelime levels are essential for a successful

Why grow lucerne?• High protein forage

• Drought tolerant

• Four cuts per year possible

• 3-5 year potential

• Clamp big bale or hay

• Nitrogen benefit for subsequent crop

• Can be dried and pelleted

crop and liming to pH 7 is advised. Aciditywill not be tolerated.

Fertiliser:In general Lucerne requires no nitrogeneither in the establishment orsubsequently. Lucerne is a legume and assuch is able by association with bacteriato fix nitrogen into the soil for its own use.It will leave residual nitrogen for use bysubsequent crops. However if the Lucerneis following a particularly nitrogen hungryrotation (e.g. cereals) a small quantity ofnitrogen may be beneficial in the seedbed(50kg/Ha maximum). If slurry is appliedbefore drilling this usually providessufficient nitrogen in organic form. Excessnitrogen application will inhibit rootnodulation and reduce the Lucerne’sability to fix nitrogen into the soil.

A strongly growing crop of Lucerne willremove approximately 150kgs/HaPhosphate and Potash annually. Thisshould be replaced to maintain soil levelsby smaller applications after each cut or asingle application after the last cut of thesummer. Apply fertiliser immediately aftercutting to avoid leaf scorch on the newleaf growth.

All fertiliser should be applied according torequirements based upon soil analysisprior to sowing. Trace elements may bedeficient on light soils and attention shouldbe paid to the availability of MAGNESIUM,SULPHUR, MOLYBDENUM, and BORON.These can be particularly important at theestablishment phase.

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Innoculation:Treatment of Lucerne seed with Rhizobium bacteria is essential prior to sowing inorder to ensure successful root nodulation and efficient nitrogen fixing. Inoculation isa simple process involving mixing the seed with a powder and water.

The mixture is allowed to quickly dry before drilling.

Sowing Rate/Depth:Sowing rates vary from 8-15 kgs per acre (20-37 kg/ha). Lucerne has very tiny seedand is best drilled at no more than 1cm depth. Drill into moisture in 10cm rows.Sowing too deep will result in failed emergence. Fine firm seedbeds are essential androlling after drilling is advised. Broadcasting seed is an option and has the advantageof ensuring seed is not placed too deep.

Weed Control:Lucerne is a very uncompetitive crop in its early growth stages. It will not tolerateweeds and control is essential if infestation is serious.

Summer sowings are likely to have less weed competition than sowings in spring. Theyalso enable cheaper sterile seedbed techniques to be used.

Light infestations are likely to be removed in the first cut and smothered by the re-growth. This however is very dependent upon successful initial populationestablishment.

Approved chemicals for use on Lucerne are limited and advice should be sort uponthose with clearance for use.

Perennial weeds should be controlled as far in advance of the crop as possible.

Pests and Diseases:There are very few chemicals which can be used on Lucerne to control any pests ordiseases. The problem is compounded by the inability to enter and travel through thecrop once it is actively growing, unless tramlines are used at establishment.

Weevils - may attack at an early stage in establishment biting off young shoots.(Pyrethroids may be used).

Aphids - may infest later but no chemical approval exists for control at present.

Slugs - a potential problem at initial establishment. These should be monitored andslug pellets used where required.

Eelworm - (Ditylenchus dipsaci) can cause persistency problems and whereinfestations in the soil are known to occur, varietal resistance is the only practicalsolution. Eelworm is more prevalent of heavier soils.

Always use fumigated seed to avoid importing Eelworm to your soil and crop.

Verticillium wilt - There are no chemicals available for the control of this disease.Varietal resistance is the only option.

Rotation:For crop cleanliness purposes a rotation of 5 years is advised between Lucerne crops.Crops may be down for 3-5 years depending upon the durability of the stand.

Harvest:The first cut will usually be in late April/May depending upon season and location. Thecutting cycle will usually be approximately 40 days and cuts should be taken at the setof the flower buds. Delaying cutting will result in lower quality more fibrous materialbeing harvested and a lower feed value. Cutting pre-flowering will yield 20-22%protein. This reduces to 17-18% when cut once flowers have emerged.

Lucerne has low soluble carbohydrate levels and when ensiled this can lead tofermentation problems. A silage additive is therefore recommended to assistconservation preservation. Because of these difficulties ensiling as Big Bale oftenproves easier and more successful. If clamp silage is to be made then a good wilt iseven more essential, raising the soluble carbohydrate concentration in the remainingsap.

Cut at about an 8cm stubble length the Lucerne should be swathed and wilted. Excessdrying will result in loss of leaves and nothing but stalk will remain. Insufficient wiltingmay lead to effluent problems. A compromise may be reached by wilting until thematerial on the top of the swath is dry whilst that in the middle is still more green andmoist. Bailing at this stage will conserve the valuable leaf material but minimiseeffluent.

Lucerne is not entirely suitable for grazing as treading causes excessive wastage anddamages the plants too severely. Excess grazed intake can also cause bloat.

Light grazing is less likely to cause damage if practiced once the crop has stoppedgrowing into the autumn.

Care should be exercised to avoid damaging the plant crown growing points as this caninduce Lucerne crown rot. This disease can also be a problem if excess slurry isapplied.

Lucerne is bestharvested at the set of

the flowerbed

expert advice

MARSHALLThis variety can produce very highdry matter yields. The variety iswell adapted to UK conditions andcan be harvested for either silageor Hay.

Marshall has thinner stems and istherefore very palatable.

ALICIAAlicia is a high yielding variety.Ideal for silage or Haylageproduction.

Very high protein content (17%)and good ground cover makes thisvariety an ideal choice.

Phosphate (P1O5)kg/ha

Potash (PsO)kg/ha

Recommendations Soil index 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3

Establishment 120 80 50 30 120 80 50 0

First cut 100 80 50 30 150 120 90 30

Subsequent cuts 100 80 50 30 120 90 60 30

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Catch CropMixtures

LAMB TONIC1.00kg White Clover

0.50kg Plantain Tonic

2.50kg Chicory

4.00 kg per acre

A new concept developed inNew Zealand. The crop can besown in strips or added to grassleys will provide a nutritiousleafy food with high mineralcontent.

This mixture is perennial andshould last 3-4 years.

AUTUMN KEEP1.00kg Forage Rape Hobson

0.50kg Stubble Turnip Samson

0.75kg Stubble Turnip Rondo

0.25kg Kale

2.50 kg per acre

Very fast establishment forautumn use. Autumn Keep willproduce a quality crop with gooddisease resistance.

MEAT MAKER1.30kg Forage Rape Hobson

0.50kg Stubble Turnip Rondo

0.20kg Kale

2.00 kg per acre

An excellent blend designed toproduce autumn or winter keepfrom minimal effort.

The higher inclusion of foragerape helps to protect theturnips if crops are to be usedlater.

LATE LAMB1.00kg Kale Rape Hybrid

1.00kg Stubble Turnip Rondo

5.00kg Italian Ryegrass

7.00 kg per acre

The inclusion of varieties withimproved winter hardinessmakes this mixture ideal forlater use. Italian Ryegrassensures the crop has improveddensity to help keep animalscleaner.

Catch crop mixtures are becoming increasingly popular as a way of providing a balanced feed that can be grazed in situ. Most of theseconcepts involve the blending of catch crop species such as stubble turnips, forage rape and kale.

The high protein contents of both forage rape and kales complement the high energy stubble turnip bulbs and provide an excellent wellbalanced autumn or winter feed.

Preferred Mixtures

Sowing combinations of stubble turnip and forage rape

has two benefits, it improves theprotein content of the crop andsecondly, forage rape improveswinter hardiness and extends

the utilisation period.

expert advice

Chicory

Chicory is a perennial forage herb and is capable of producingvery high quality feed in early spring to late autumn. The plantneeds approximately 14 – 16 weeks growth before fullproduction is achieved. The plant will produce leafy top growthwith a deep tap root that can stand drought and will even

tolerate low Ph soils of 5.0.

Why grow chicory?• Highly palatable• Summer production• Drought tolerant• Quick recovery after grazing• No bloat problems• Grown on its own or mixed

with a grass seed ley mixture• Rich source of trace elements

and minerals

Variety ProfileCHICOChico chicory is UK proven and has the ability to deliver high quality forage for finishinglambs. Chico Choice can also be mixed with Forage Plantain Tonic to help increase theCopper and selenium content (see page 20) Lamb tonic mixture.

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Soil type/Site selection:Chicory prefers well drained soils withmoderate to high fertility. Ph should beabove 5.5, however some crops have beengrown successfully below 5.0

Seedbed and sowing methods:Chicory is best sown in the spring, into afirm, fine seedbed. The seed can bebroadcast or drilled at 5 kilos per hectare(2 kilo per acre). Sowing depth is approx1cm .Chicory can also be added to grass &clover seed mixtures at 1 kilo per acre.Slug pellets can be used to aidestablishment.

Fertiliser:Like any crop Chicory will benefit fromsome fertiliser applied into the seedbed. Ifyou have done a recent soil test check theindices.

As a guideline apply phosphate at 20kg/haPotash and nitrogen at 30kg/ha.

Feeding:Chicory is dormant during the wintermonths but will grow quickly from Aprilonwards. The crop is ready for grazingwhen it reaches a height of 8”.

The crop is best rotationally grazed every5-6 weeks to prevent the plants fromflowering. Try not to graze after floweringor after wet conditions when the crownsare more susceptible to damage.

Graze the croprotationally every

5-6 weeks toprevent the plants

flowering

ex

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24

CropRotations

Using the chart below you can easily introduce forage crops into your rotation.Just look at the options in the column marked “what do you want to achieve”. For instance – Cereal to Grass, and then select the year 1 and 2crop options. Forage crops provide a fantastic break crop and entry back into grass – it allows you to control any serious weed problems andwill add back to your soil vital animal manures.

What do you want to achieve? Year 1 Crop suggestions Year 2 Crop suggestions

SPRING AUTUMN/WINTER SPRING AUTUMN/WINTER

CEREAL TO GRASS Spring barley Stubble turnips Spring grass reseed

HIGH ENERGY Fodder beet Forage maize Feed wheat

PROFITABLE SHEEP Swede Spring barley Forage Rape

PROTEIN BOOSTER Arable silage Lucerne (sow no later than July)

NEW GRASS Worn out grass ley Kale Spring sown grass ley(after 1st cut silage)

MILK YIELDER Maize Forage rye Fodder beet

OUT-WINTERING Fodder beet Kale Kale

GRASS REVIVER Low yielding ley Stitch in Grass/Clover Revitalised grass

TRIPLE CEREAL Spring barley Forage rye Forage maize

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FeedingGuidelinesMany of the Forages that appear in this booklet are grazed and utilised in thefield (Grazed in Situ). To get the best from your crops a few simple steps canmake all the difference in maximising animal performance and profitability.

The following are some of the key management tools you may consider:

• Recommended inclusion rates should be between 35 – 50% of total drymatter intake.

• Access to straw or hay as well as the forage brassica is important

• Ensure a good water supply

• Occasionally over feeding can cause Goitre and blood anaemia but access tostraw and hay can help reduce this problem

Strip Grazing

• Using an electric fence will help reduce wastage in the field

• Long narrow strips are best to allow full animal access

• Introduce the animals to the crop slowly

• Move the electric fence daily if possible

• Providing a dry run back will keep the animals clean

The chart below will allow you to calculate how many grazing days eachforage crop will provide:

SPECIES LESS WASTAGEFACTOR

Grazing Wastage%

UTILISABLE YIELD

Tonnes per hectare

GRAZING DAYS PER HECTARE

SHEEP RATION7.5kg per day 10kg per day

KALE 60 25 45 6000 4500 2045

STUBBLE TURNIP 40 25 30 4000 3000 1364

FORAGE RAPE 35 25 26.25 3500 2625 1193

SWEDE 80 25 60 8000 6000 2727

FORAGE PEAS 35 20 28 3733 2800 1273

FORAGE RYE 20 15 17 2266 1700 772

How much should I grow?AVERAGE FRESH YIELD

Tonnes per hectareDAIRY OR BEEF RATION

22kg/2-3 hour grazing period

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Fertiliser GuidelinesFor Forage Crops

Extract from DEFRA fertiliser manual (RB209) version 8.

SNS Index0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Crop/Species Kilos per hectareSwedeNitrogen (N) 100 80 60 40 0-40 0 0Phosphate (P2O5) 105 75 45 0 0 0 0Potash (K2O) 215 185 155 (2-) 80 0 0 0

125 (2+)Forage Rape and Stubble TurnipsNitrogen (N) 100 90 80 60 40 0-40 0Phosphate (P2O5) 85 55 25 0 0 0 0Potash (K2O) 110 80 50 (2-) 0 0 0 0

20 (2+)Fodder BeetNitrogen (N) 130 120 110 90 60 0-40 0Phosphate (P2O5) 110 80 50 0 0 0 0Potash (K2O) 170 140 110 (2-) 40 0 0 0

80 (2+)KaleNitrogen (N) 130 120 110 90 60 0-40 0Phosphate (P2O5) 110 80 50 0 0 0 0Potash (K2O) 260 230 200 (2-) 130 0 0 0

170 (2+)Forage RyeNitrogen (N) 80 60 40 20 0 0 0Phosphate (P2O5) 95 65 35 0 0 0 0Potash (K2O) 180 150 120 (2-) 50 0 0 0

90 (2+)

CropSummary

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Below you will find a chart which summarises the forage crops featured in this guide,from sowing times and rates, growing costs yield and feed quality data.Use this guide to select the forage crop which best suits your system and objectives.

Species Sowing Time Sowing Rate Growing Costs Fresh Yield Dry Matter Crude Protein ME MEper hectare per hectare* per hectare tonnes per hectare tonnes per hectare % kg/DM MJ per hectare

Fodder Beet March-April 100,000 seeds £1,460 80-90 13-15 12-13 12.5-13.5 162,500-202,500

Kale April-Early July 4-5 kgs £496 60-65 8-10 16-17 10.0-11.0 80,000-110,000

Stubble Turnip May-August 5-8 kgs £305 38-45 3.5-5.0 17-18 11.0 38,500-44,000

Forage Rape May-August 6-9 kgs £408 24-35 3.5-4.0 19-20 10-11 35,000-49,500

Swedes April-June £403 70-90 7-10 10-11 12.8-13.1 89,600-131,000

Lucerne ▲ April-August 30-35 kgs £1,459 35-40s 10-12 17-22 10 100,000-120,000

Forage peas March-Early June 125-150 kgs £708 37-50 8-10 18-20 10.5 84,000-105,000

Forage Rye Sept-October 185 kgs £339 20-24 5-6 11-12 10 50,000-60,000

Forage Maize April-May 100-110,000 seeds £1,155 45-54 15-18 9.5 10.5-11.8 157,500-212,400

3-5 kgs Direct350g-850g Precision

*Growing costs provided by Kingshay Farming Trust ▲ 3 cuts per year

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SEED GRADING GRADE SIZE (mm) STANHAY SPRING BASE CHOKE WEBBS SELECTOR BELT SIZE WHEEL

Fodder Beet Pelleted Q-U 3.50 - 4.75 15 or 16 C A EPMangel Pelleted

Mangel Rubbed M-T 2.75 - 4.50 14 or 15 B X Eand Graded

Swede “H” 1.75 - 2.00 8 A T B

Turnip “G” 1.50 - 1.75 7 A T A

Kale “J” 2.00 - 2.25 8.5 A T C

SWEDE

Natural seed packed in kilo packs(310,000 seeds approx.)

Graded seed packed in 500 gmpacks (150,000 seeds approx.)

Grade ‘H’ (1.75 - 2.00mm)

(Approx 300 - 370 seeds per gm)

KALE

Natural seed packed in 1 kilo packs(150,000 seeds approx.)

Graded seed packed in 500 gmpacks (75,000 seeds approx.)

Grade ‘J’ (2.00 - 2.25mm)

Approx 150 - 175 seeds per gm)

TURNIP

Natural seed packed in 1 kilo packs(430,000 seeds approx.)

Graded seed packed in 500gmpacks (220,000 seeds approx.)

Grade “G” (1.50 - 1.75mm)

(Approx 420 - 510 seeds per gm)

FODDER BEET

(Genetic monogerm) 1 acre (50,000 seeds)

Grade Q-U (3.50 - 4.75mm)

PRECISION DRILL RECOMMENDATIONS

NUMBER OF SEEDS BY PACK SIZE SUPPLIED

Precision DrillRecommendations

For technical advice andthe name of your nearestLG stockist contact:

Terms & Condition of SaleAll varieties and products listed in this catalogue areoffered strictly subject to safe harvest, final certificationand remaining unsold on receipt of orders. All otherterms & conditions of sale will be advised by yourindividual LG Forage crops distributor or stockist.

Contacts

Scotland & N IrelandJohn Heaphytel: 01875 833 356 mob: 07774 929742

Northern England & MidlandsJohn Spencetel: 01673 885429 mob: 07710 981984

West & North WalesBrian Copestaketel: 01283 711162 mob: 07702 681366

South & S IslesGraham Parnelltel: 01566 775937 mob: 07795 037959

West & SouthRick Swaittel: 01278 671700mob: 07885 775965

Eastern Counties Toby Greentel: 01722 714909mob: 07899 661864

Limagrain UK LimitedRothwell, Market Rasen, Lincolnshire. LN7 6DT

Tel: 01472 371471 forage@limagrain.co.uk www.limagrain.co.uk/forage

These profitable home grown feeding solutions are available from:

Limagrain UK Limited. Registered No.1305690 England. Registered Office. Rothwell, Market Rasen, Lincolnshire.

Ref: Forage Crops Guide/November 2010

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