For many producers this season, the emphasis will be on filling clamps with the highest quality grass silage possible, following the forage shortages caused by last year’s drought.
In many cases, producers may be looking to get extra volume from short term catch crops or may consider over-seeding mature leys to extend yield potential. However, in either instance, it will be vital to return fields to production as cost-effectively and quickly as possible to maximise the potential of the land.
Did you know that L-CBF BOOST™ can save you £3,000 in feed costs and £2,000 in fertiliser costs?
Here’s how L-CBF BOOST™ can help you:
At planting
Applications of L-CBF BOOST™ at planting, or in the pre-regrowth stage of production, can help to ensure:
- New or over-seeded grass leys are established quickly and robustly by ensuring the soil biology have the required availability of carbon
- Key nutrients are supplied in an available form to support nutrient cycling, root establishment and early vigour
During the grazing season
Following grazing or cutting, a second application of L-CBF BOOST™ will reinvigorate the microbes, stimulating re-growth and maximising the yield potential of the grass crop.
Not only has L-CBF BOOST™ been shown to increase the yield grass it has also been proved to improve yields of forage maize and whole-crop cereals by up to 10%.
This means if you don’t want to replenish buffer stocks in your clamp you could reduce grass acres by 10% and grow more cereals, reducing bought in forage, or the option to sell the surplus.
Improvements in protein
Lucerne crops have seen protein values increase by up to 10% after applications of L-CBF BOOST™, with similar results being seen on grassland.
In trails it has been proven that L-CBF BOOST™ reduces the lignin content of crops, providing an increase in the availability of digestible fibre for the cow.
This can result in a £3,000 reduction in bought-in feed costs annually (based on a 100-cow herd) *.
Maximising farm yard manure (FYM) applications
The increased carbon within the soil provided by L-CBF BOOST™, when combined with nitrogen rich slurry, alters the soil carbon nitrogen ratio. This ensures maximum efficiency of nitrogen utilisation and reduced volatilization into the atmosphere, allowing farmers to maximise the potential of home-produced fertiliser inputs.
FYM and slurry applications can also be enhanced by applications of L-CBF BOOST™. The introduction of yeasts, combined within the carbon-based fertiliser, increase the activity of soil fungi and therefore the speed at which manure and straw from FYM is broken down, which increases organic matter and improves soil structure and fertility. This combined effect encourages improved rooting resulting in a more robust sward.
The combined effects can result in:
- A fertiliser saving of 10% due to maximising FYM and bagged fertiliser performance
- On a 200 hectare farm applying 100 kg/ha of N on average this could represent a cost saving of up to £2,000 in fertiliser at current prices, which more than covers the cost of the L-CBF BOOST™. Input efficiencies improved, better nutrient cycling, reduced environmental impact and improved soil health and fertility
With an increased yield of better-quality grass and saving on feed and fertiliser costs why not give L-CBF BOOST™ a try!
For more information on using L-CBF BOOST on grassland click here.
*Protein saving calculation:
1. A 6% increase in the crude protein of grass silage – on average increasing CP from 15% to 15.9%
2. 3kg forage DMI, protein intake increases by 0.12% CP (DM)
3. This can replace 0.3kg rapemeal, which at 34% CP equates to 0.11% CP (DM)
4. On a 100-cow herd, over a month this equates to a feed saving of 1T rapemeal. Which equates to a saving of up to £3,000 per annum