Week 11 Forage brassicas 2 Flashcards
Forage brassicas are grown as:
A supplement and as an alternative to pastures in animal production systems
What can forage brassicas be fed in ?
Can be fed in situ in early summer or through winter:
– Produce high quality feed in periods of feed deficit
What are advantages of Forage Brassicas?
– Advantages for pasture renovation by reducing weeds, pests, diseases, creating better soil conditions and cleaner seed beds for establishing new pastures
What should you use forage brassicas?
- Periods of feed shortage through the summer, autumn and winter
- To supplement periods of low pasture quality
- To finish stock
- Prior to pasture renewal
- Renewed interest in the dairy industry in
Ireland – dry cows and replacement heifers - Beef/sheep production application
Whats important when growing forage brassicas?
Cross Compliance
- Protect soils, water ways and the animals
- Select appropriate fields – ensure no run off, provide run back area and shelter
- Move stock daily and no machinery in the field
- Not all animals will take to grazing brassicas, so it is important to watch animals carefully and, where necessary, remove any animal
- Housing must be available
Whats the seasonal Growth of Brassicas?
Slide 8
Whats the cost of production of :
Kale
Rape/stubble turnip
Fodder Beet
Kale €218
Rape/stubble turnip €283/182
Fodder Beet €225
List the 5 main Brassica Crops:
Kale
Rape
Redstart (hybrid)
Stubble Turnups eg Tyfon
Swedes
How to calculate CP?
N x 6.25 = CP
MJ ME/kg DM :
1- Crops
2- Turnips
3- Swedes
4- Kale
5- Rape
1- Crops
2- Turnips 13.0
3- Swedes 13.0
4- Kale 12.5
5- Rape 12.0
Digestibility %
1- Crops
2- Turnips
3- Swedes
4- Kale
5- Rape
1- Crops
2- Turnips 90%
3- Swedes 90%
4- Kale 80%
5- Rape 85%
Bulb/stem
1- Crops
2- Turnips
3- Swedes
4- Kale
5- Rape
1- Crops
2- Turnips 1.5 - 2.5
3- Swedes 1.5 - 2.5
4- Kale Soft 1.9 Hard 1.0
5- Rape
Leaves
1- Crops
2- Turnips
3- Swedes
4- Kale
5- Rape
1- Crops
2- Turnips 2.5 - 3.5
3- Swedes 2.5 - 3.5
4- Kale 2.5 - 3.5
5- Rape 3.0
Composition (% of total DM), quality
(MJ ME/kg DM) and its impact on predicted diet ME from different kale types
Intermediate Stem Cultivars
% total DM
1- Leaf
2- Upper stem
3- Upper mid
4- Lower mid
5- Lower
% total DM
1- Leaf 44
2- Upper stem 11
3- Upper mid 14
4- Lower mid 15
5- Lower 16
Composition (% of total DM), quality
(MJ ME/kg DM) and its impact on predicted diet ME from different kale types
Giant Type Cultivars
% total DM
1- Leaf
2- Upper stem
3- Upper mid
4- Lower mid
5- Lower
1- Leaf 24
2- Upper stem 17
3- Upper mid 19
4- Lower mid 20
5- Lower 20
Whats not advisable when feeding forage brassicas?
Brassicas can be fed as 100% of the total diet but not advisable
Brassicas should form no more than ?% of the diet’s DM content,
with the additional fibre source meeting the remaining ?% of their
daily dry matter requirement
70%
30%
Milking cows should not have more than ?% of the diet as brassicas
33%
➢ Dry cows not have more than ?% of diet as brassica
➢ Dry cows not have more than 70% of diet as brassica
in lambs, a high intake of brassica does what?
In lambs, a high intake of brassica increases the risk of photosensitivity
In sheep systems brassicas may make-up ?% of the diet
90-100%
Effect of winter feed on dry cow performance
At parturition:
Kale
Swedes
Grass in situ
Silage indoors
Kale 3.27
Swedes 3.20
Grass in situ 2.85
Silage indoors 3.58
Conclusions of wintering dry cows
What does Grazing forage kale and swedes in situ do?
moderately increased BCS during late pregnancy
Is there a difference between treatments in subsequent milk, protein, fat or lactose yields
No difference