Whether you want to grow turnips for cattle feed or you are interested in feeding your cattle with turnips, there are many things to consider before you start. In this article we will discuss some of the most important aspects of growing turnips for cattle feed and the most effective ways of feeding them to your livestock.
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Results of the trials at Barkham Farm
During a special meeting of the Wokingham Borough Council on Thursday June 30, the council approved the next phase of the Barkham Farm solar farm. The new plan calls for 67,340 solar panels to be installed on farmland north and south of Barkham Ride. This will generate enough renewable energy to power thousands of local homes. The plan also includes wider landscaping to promote biodiversity and a new Greenway.
The results of the trials at Barkham Farm are a welcome development. The 52 hectare site will be returned to agriculture in 25 years time.
The biggest challenge is finding a tenant farmer to take over the reins. Andrew Lake is a cattle farmer in Berkshire. He will continue to run some of his business at the site. He has been a vocal supporter of the Barkham Farm solar farm.
There are plenty of Devon farmers keen on the trials. The Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group is a charity which is organising the trial, and has secured funding from the Woodland Trust, the Department of Food, Drink and Agriculture (DFDA), and the Innovative Farmers scheme.
Stubble Turnips vs Real Turnips
Stubble Turnips are a great short term forage crop for cattle feed. They are fast growing, provide high protein content and are easy to establish. They are also highly nutritious. They are ideal for finishing lambs, fattening livestock over the winter and buffer feed during the summer.
There are many different varieties of turnips to choose from. These range from garden varieties that cost just a few dollars to hybrids that can be planted up until June. These varieties have a high leaf to root ratio and are resistant to diseases such as turnip mosaic virus. They can be stored for up to four months in damp sand and can be stored in pits or piles.
Stubble turnips can be planted in the first half of August. They are ready to be grazed after 12 weeks. A good crop will provide 1,000 grazing days per acre.
They are grown on loam soils with a pH range of 5.5 to 6.8. Modern fodder varieties are resistant to turnip mosaic virus and have white or yellow flesh. They also thrive on moist soils.
The labour cost of growing and feeding turnips
Despite being a grazing crop that has been around for ages, turnips are still an interesting option for livestock producers. Turnips are a part of the Brassica family and do well when planted in the early fall. They do best in cool weather climates, and may require an addition of moisture to their crop mix.
The best time to harvest turnips for grazing purposes is in the early fall, or 70 days before the first hard frost. The grazing cycle can be extended up to four or six months. The crop can be stored in damp sand or in a pile or pit. The best time to plant turnip seed is late May or early June.
There is plenty of research and anecdotal evidence to suggest that turnips are a good fit for livestock operations. They are a good choice because they are palatable to livestock, reduce compaction in the pasture, and can revive a barren pasture in a pinch.
Modern silage system with cattle housed over the winter
Whether growing for dairy cattle or beef cattle, corn is a very important crop in the modern silage system with cattle housed over the winter. This is because it produces the most energy per acre. However, corn is also vulnerable to diseases, which can reduce the productivity of the crop. Several diseases of corn include foliar leaf blight, crown disease, and root and stalk diseases.
These diseases can result in serious losses to the quality of the silage. Additionally, they can cause the development of lethal mycotoxins. In order to avoid this, a good fermentation is needed to prevent spoilage. The fermentation process must be performed in an anaerobic environment. This allows the quality of the forage to be preserved. In addition, the fermentation process must be performed at the proper pH level. If the pH drops too rapidly, the forage will be spoiled.
In addition to disease resistance, genetic material also plays a role in silage production. Different corn hybrids have been developed for different purposes. Hybrids with traits such as high NDF digestibility and high forage yields are ideal.
