REALISING the true value of forage this coming season will be under the microscope at a farm walk at Bishop Burton College, Beverley on Wednesday, February 18. Organised by the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers and Volac, the animal nutrition company, the event will focus on how to optimise the value of silage swards – what varieties to grow and how, when to cut, how to clamp and to keep cool in order to maximise the quantity and quality of silage, improve potential intakes and ultimately enhance performance from forage.

Speakers include Dr Dave Davies, independent consultant; Daniel Robinson and Neil Birkett from Volac; Iain Eadie from Germinal; and Phil Richardson, Bishop Burton College farm manager, who will discuss how making both quantity and quality forage are a priority for the unit’s 120 cow dairy herd and his plans for further improvement.

"All livestock farmers have potential to improve their forage making and make further cost savings," said Daniel Robinson. "A 1,000 tonne clamp, or 2,000 500kg bales of silage, analysing 30 per cent dry matter (DM) contains 300 tonnes of DM worth over £30,000.

"However, average DM losses are running at up to four per cent from wilting, up to five per cent is lost filling the clamp, and between two per cent to 15 per cent during storage. Effluent losses amount to up to eight per cent and feed-out losses of up to 15 per cent from silage face to feed trough. Consequently, it goes without saying that optimal practice to minimise losses at every step of the process makes good financial sense.”

To register a free place call RABDF on 0845 458 2711 or register at rabdf.co.uk