Forage and Root Crops
Forage Root Crops provide an extremely cost effective way of supplementing livestock rations during times when fodder may be scarce; during dry spells in summer and the cold winter months. They will supply substantial quantities of palatable material at relatively low production costs, reducing the amount of bought-in feed. For further information and current prices on all of the following Forage Root Crops, please do not hesitate to contact Alan or Alison on alan@:grassseed.co.uk or telephone 01259 760400
Stubble Turnips
Stubble Turnips are a fast growing catch crop, popular with livestock farmers. They may be sown after 1st cut silage for summer grazing or after winter cereals for autumn usage. There are two types of Stubble Turnip: Bulbing (Barkant and Vollenda) and non bulbing (Tyfon)
- Barkant - A winter hardy, highly digestible variety with high dry matter. This is a proven and reliable stubble turnip.
- Vollenda (Tetraploid) - A large leafed, highly digestible variety with good early vigour and good disease resistance. It retains its palatability throughout the season, and is noted for its yield, speed of growth and bolting resistance.
- Tyfon - A leafy, fast growing cross between Chinese cabbage and Stubble Turnip, producing 50 - 80 tonnes per hectare. It exhibits high frost resistance and can be utilised within 8 - 10 weeks after sowing. There is potential for regrowth.
Forage Rape
Forage Rape has the advantage of being a very fast growing crop, suitable for grazing by sheep or cattle. An ideal catch crop for boosting midsummer forage production for livestock farmers when planted in the spring, it is suitable for fattening lambs in the autumn/winter. Forage Rape can be mixed with Stubble Turnips to combine the benefits of both crops.
- Napoleon - A very quick to establish and has a very wide sowing window. Can be mixed with grass to improve intake, allowing it to be grazed while the young grass seedlings establish. Napoleon has very high yields with excellent disease resistance and is more winter hardy than Emerald.
- Emerald - A rapidly establishing, medium-to-tall, palatable variety with above average dry matter yields and good general disease resistance
Fodder Beet
Fodder Beet is grown as a main root crop, which requires similar husbandry to sugar beet. It can produce substantial yields of high quality forage and is an excellent supplement to grass silage. The roots are very palatable to stock and have superb feed quality.
- Alpes - The Ultimate fodder beet variety, it has exceptional all round characteristics and is notably the highest yielding, cleanest fodder beet available, thus ensuring less waste and more profit. Good resistance to bolting.
- Magnum - Has a consistent root size and reliable high dry matter yields. It is a very palatable variety therefore increasing appetite and dry matter intake in all stock. Due to its high matter content it is more frost resistant than other varieties.
- Tintin - Higher fresh and dry matter yield than Kyros.
- Kyros - A very consistent, high yielding variety producing a clean, highly palatable and easily digestible root at harvest.
Kale
Kale is a Brassica traditionally grown for grazing by cattle in the autumn and winter. It can also be cut and fed to stock 'in house' or as an alternative can be ensiled as big bale kaleage. Kale is very useful as it can extend the grazing season. It is advisable to alternate sowing dates to ensure it does not over-mature. It is very adaptable and can grow on most sites throughout the UK. Kale can also be used as game cover.
- Keeper - Keeper has a high leaf to stem ration that stands well with good resistance to lodging and a high dry matter content ideal for autumn or winter utilisation.
- Thousand Head - Thousand Head is a slender stemmed variety bearing leafy foliage with very high D value and dry matter content. It has excellent winter hardiness providing forage for feeding after Christmas. Thousand Head can supply approximately 90 tonnes/ha of green forage matter.
Swede
Swedes are a full season root crop which are mainly fed in situ; but can also be lifted and stored in a clamp. They do best in areas of high rainfall, so are generally grown in the more northerly and western areas of the UK. Swedes are generally classed as fodder or culinary types, however there are some dual purpose types.
- Airlie - Airlie has a very fresh yield and good disease resistance. It is a dual purpose variety suitable for fodder and culinary use with purple skin and creamy white flesh. Airlie is an early to intermediate use variety.
- Marian - Marian is a medium dry matter variety with moderate resistance to club root. It is a dual purpose variety suitable for fodder and culinary use with yellow coloured flesh and purple skin.
- Ruta Otofte - Rota Otofte is a medium dry matter variety with good Mildew resistance. It is a dual purpose variety suitable for fodder and culinary use with purple skin and cream coloured flesh. Rota Otofte is a popular variety with sheep farmers.
For further information and current prices on all of the above Forage Root Crops, please do not hesitate to contact Alan or Alison on alan@grassseed.co.uk or telephone 01259 760400