FARMERS URGED TO REVIEW FORAGE STOCKS AS GRASS GROWTH DROPS SHARPLY

Livestock farmers are being urged to take stock of forage supplies and start planning winter rations now, as continued dry weather raises concerns over forage availability later in the year.

While early first-cut silage results suggest both quality and yields are stronger than those seen in 2025, the latest figures from AHDB’s Forage for Knowledge (July 2026) show grass growth has fallen sharply.

Current growth rates have dropped to around 31.8kg DM/ha/day, well below the five-year average of almost 50kg DM/ha/day for this point in the season, raising concerns that many farms may need to begin feeding conserved forage earlier than anticipated.

Andrew Jones, independent ruminant nutritionist at ChewintheCud Ltd, said although many farms had made a promising start to the season, the outlook remained uncertain.

“First-cut silage has generally tested well, with improvements in digestibility, fermentable energy and overall energy density compared with last year, creating good potential for milk from forage,” he said.

“However, there is considerable variation between farms, and with grass growth slowing significantly, it’s vital that producers assess both the quantity and quality of forage they have available and begin budgeting for winter now.”

Mr Jones said no one could predict how the weather would develop over the coming weeks, making regular monitoring essential.

“If you budget your forage stocks now, you can identify any potential shortfalls early and plan how you’re going to fill those gaps before winter arrives.”

He stressed that maintaining a balanced ration should remain the priority.

“The most important thing is ensuring diets remain correctly balanced. Regular forage analysis and ration reviews are essential to avoid over- or under-feeding as forage quality changes throughout the season.”

Where forage supplies are likely to be tight, Mr Jones said co-products could help bridge the gap.

“Moist feeds are often viewed simply as forage alternatives, but they can also offer a cost-effective alternative to some dry blends, when compared on a dry matter basis. They improve palatability, encourage dry matter intakes and provide greater flexibility within the ration.

“However, it’s important to choose the right product for the nutritional requirement, whether that’s starch, protein, energy or digestible fibre. Every ration is different, so maintaining the correct nutritional balance is key.”

Emily Keep, nutritionist at Duynie, said moist co-products and liquid feeds could play an important role in supporting both dairy and beef rations where forage supplies are under pressure.

“Products such as Brewers’ Grains and C-Traffordgold® can act as effective forage extenders, supplying valuable energy, protein and digestible fibre while helping to maintain rumen function,” she said.

“Liquid co-products can also provide an effective way of supplementing forage shortfalls while improving ration palatability. Most liquid co-products have good nutritional value, but farmers should pay close attention to dry matter content.

“Loch Lomond Gold, for example, has a dry matter of more than 32%, making it a useful feed option. It also provides around 14MJ ME/kg DM and approximately 33% protein, making it a valuable buffer feed. By comparison, liquid products with a dry matter of 20% or less contain much more water, meaning considerably higher feeding rates are needed to supply the same level of nutrients.”

“The improved palatability and intakes from moist feeds, combined with quality protein and energy levels, can support strong production gains, including more milk in the tank and higher milk protein levels in dairy herds, alongside improved daily liveweight gains in beef cattle and youngstock.”

To support greater use of liquid co-products, Duynie also offers a silo service that enables farmers to store liquid feeds without significant upfront investment. The service includes the supply and installation of a 50m³ fibreglass storage tank, with farmers responsible only for the concrete base and electrical connections.

For more information, visit www.duynie.com