Pembrokeshire farmers scoop RWAS silage competition prize
Silage – grass that has been cut, wilted, gathered and stored for feeding ruminants in winter – is one of the most important crops for Welsh farmers. It can be stored in clamps or in big bales and the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society, recognising the need for silage of the highest quality for the economic production of milk and meat, teamed up with the Federation of Welsh Grassland Societies to organise competitions for the best Clamp and Big Bale samples in Wales.
This year’s winner of the clamp silage competition is Darren Callan of Lower Broadmoore Farm, Talbenny, Haverfordwest, a member of the Cleddau Grassland Society. One of five farmers to reach the finals of the clamp competition, he manages 590 acres of which 90 are in spring wheat, 200 in grass rotation and 300 continuous grass. The winning silage was all intermediate and late heading perennial rye grass harvested on a three-cut system.
The analysis showed a DM of 31.7, ME 11.6, CP 15.0, NHз – N 5.2 an intake potential of 108 the foundation for animal milk rates of 9840 litres per cow.
The Big Bale competition attracted a large entry from across Wales and produced excellent quality silage from all regions. Dry matter was high and in only one finalist was less than 50%.
The winner this year, also from Pembrokeshire, is Meurig Harries of Trefgarn Owen Farm, Penycwm, Haverfordwest (North Pembrokeshire Grassland Society). He farms 220 acres – 25 of arable and the remainder in grass rotations. The silage system is 100% baled silage and is fed to weaned beef calves and finishing cattle. The silage analysis was DM 54.6, ME 11.4, CP 17.0, NHз – N 4.5 and intake potential 116.
The runners-up in the Clamp Competition were P A and J M Astley of Llansantffraid, Powys (Powys Grassland Society) and, in the Big Bale Competition, Andrew Lewis of Penycwm, Haverfordwest (North Pembrokeshire Grassland Society).
The presentations to the winners of the clamp silage competition, sponsored by NatWest Bank, and the big bale competition, sponsored by bpi-agri, will take place on Monday, July 18, at the Royal Welsh Show.
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