Demonstration Site Project - Rhiwgriafol
Improving ‘Ffridd’ land through improved grazing management
Project aim:
To demonstrate the process of converting semi improved ‘Ffridd’ ground from a set stocking system to a rotational grazing system and the associated benefits in improving grass quality.
What will be done:
- 28 acre block of semi-improved ground has been identified, which was last ploughed 19 years ago.
- The area will be split into 7 paddocks for ewes and lambs (around 300-400 dry ewes post weaning).
- Assessment of feed requirement of livestock on farm to identify the most suitable animals to use in the rotational system – during the 1st grazing season under the new management system, sheep will be prioritised.
- Calculation of predicted DM intakes, assessment of labour availability.
- Design of cells to suit intended animals taking into account, topography, , water, power and animal movement.
- Instillation of designed system.
- Training for client in the correct, efficient use of permanent/temporary fencing equipment and water systems.
- Ongoing support to set-up and manage the grazing rotation. Managed by farmer taking weekly plate meter readings with additional visits by James Daniel at critical times.
Tackling ewe lameness
Project Aim:
Lameness is a significant welfare and production issue on many farms therefore the aim of the project is to promote a ‘whole-flock’ lameness management plan using the industry standard ‘5-point plan’ (Veterinary Record, 2014).
Strategic objectives:
- During a four-year period, the farms that maintained the commitment to all five points of the ‘5-point plan’ achieved lameness levels of less than 1%.
- Techniques applied through the 5-point plan include vaccination, culling, prompt treatment, avoidance of cross-infection and effective quarantine measures.
- It is likely that implementation of all elements of the 5-point plan are required to achieve sustained reductions in levels of lameness. However, the success of a number of farms implementing the 5-point plan shows that lameness reduction is achievable within a relatively short time scale but does require long-term commitment in order to sustain success.
Project in practice:
- In-conjunction with strategic advice from the Food Animal Initiative (FAI) and the farms own vet, a whole-flock lameness reduction plan will be put in place using the principles of the 5-point plan
- The levels and severity of lameness in the flock will be monitored over a 12 month period
- Acting as baseline data a representative sample of ewes will be individually examined and scored for the presence of disease, cause and its severity. This will take place prior to tupping and will be repeated again at the end of the project at a similar time of year.
- Following on from the initial data collection exercise, a monthly visit will monitor flock lameness levels using a binomial locomotion score (absence or presence of lameness).
- This will be carried out in-conjunction with the farmer and at the same time treatment records for the previous month will be collected.
- Also recorded will be whole flock antibiotic use, any foot bathing carried out, ewes culled for lameness, labour associated with treatments given and any relevant production data.
Conclusion:
Prior to the start of the project, the lameness incidence at Rhiwgriafol was between 8-10% of the whole flock. Since adopting the 5 point plan, the lameness levels have dropped to under 1% which has improved flock efficiency.
Key messages:
- Combining a number of approaches to controlling foot rot and scald has been shown to achieve a target of less than 5% lameness within the first year following its introduction.
- It is likely that implementation of all elements of the 5-point plan are required to achieve sustained reductions in levels of lameness. However, the success of a number of farms implementing the 5-point plan shows that lameness reduction is achievable within a relatively short time scale but does require long-term commitment in order to sustain success.
Sheep Wintering Options
Project aims:
- To demonstrate the practicalities and financial impact of an outwintering system based on swedes in comparison to a housed system and sending ewes on winter keep (tack).
- Utilise two of the cheapest feeds available to sheep farmers at a time of year when feed costs are normally high. Swedes cost £62/tonne and grass/clover costs £72/tonne utilised dry matter (Forage Choice Costs & Rotation Report, Kingshay; April 2010).
Strategic objectives:
- Gather and evaluate data on the benefits of outwintering in-lamb ewes on brassicas and swedes to maximise returns from sheep enterprises.
- Explore options to reduce reliance on bought-in feeds.
Project in practice:
- A 10 acre field will be drilled with swedes (Invitation variety) at 1kg/acre. Crop yields will be monitored from establishment to grazing, to identify accurate stocking rates. The swedes will also be analysed at grazing to determine nutritional value.
- Ewes will be randomly split into three groups. The first group will strip graze the swedes from January until being moved onto grass three weeks before lambing. The second group will be housed in January and offered baled silage and concentrates. The silage will be analysed in order to balance the ration. The third group will be sent to winter grazing during October and return to the farm for lambing. They will not receive any supplementation at grass.
- The ewes’ performance will be monitored through body condition scoring, assessing the general health of the flock (including mortality, lameness and prolapse) and lambing data (number of lambs born and lambing losses/issues). All input costs of both enterprises will be recorded and lambs will be weighed at eight weeks.
Project update:
- 250 mixed-aged ewes started grazing the swedes in early January and with relatively dry weather conditions they are clearing the crop well
- An estimate of the overall dry matter yield of the crop was taken on the 19th of January and calculated to be in the region of 10 tonnes of dry matter per hectare (or about 4 tonnes per acre)
- Ewes were condition score the third week in January and most are at target condition score 3. Both singles are twins will remain on the crop with ewes housed about 4 weeks prior to lambing and singles housed in the last week of pregnancy
Conclusion:
All three systems were analysed in terms of costs and the swedes was the cheapest feed at £8/ewe, compared to £11/ewe for ewes on winter tack and £17/ewe for those on silage and concentrates. These costs included labour requirements plus an allowance for the rental value of any land used. This substantially increased the cost of out-wintering the ewes on grass, concentrates plus some silage.
Most ewes were in condition score 2 to 2.5 (which is below target condition score at lambing) on the grass and concentrates diet, whilst the ewes on the swedes and wintered away on tack were mostly condition score 3 to 3.5 (ideal score for lambing).
Key messages:
- Monitor crop yields in order to utilize crop efficiently and avoid wastage.
- Good break crop but field was taken out of production from end of May 2016 and, following the crop with a permanent pasture grass ley meant that it wasn’t available for grazing until end of June 2017. Taking the land out of production was £1.50 per ewe or 20% of the total costs.
- Grass and concentrates system impacted significantly on subsequent spring grass growth.
Project Updates:
Report: Strategies to improve winter management
Article: Maximise performance by tailoring nutritional requirements of in-lamb ewes
Making better use of grass
Project introduction:
To convert an area of the farm from set stocking to a rotational grazing system to make best use of grass. This project will highlight the practical considerations of dividing the farm up and installing the relevant infrastructure. The farm currently strip grazes dairy heifers which he contract rears, but the grazing management is done mainly through visual assessment and not actual grass measurements.
Project in practice:
- 12.4ha block of improved ground has been identified and will be split into 8 paddocks for ewes and lambs and subdivided further to a total of 16 paddocks for the heifers.
- An assessment will be undertaken of the feed requirement of livestock on farm to identify the most suitable animals to use in the rotational system – during the 1st grazing season the sheep will be prioritised.
- Design cells to suit intended animals taking into account, topography, aspect, water, power and personnel/animal movement.
- Instillation of designed system.
- Training the farmer in the correct, efficient use of permanent/temporary fencing equipment and water systems.
- Weekly plate meter readings by farmer which can be viewed on the Welsh Pasture project page..
Diagrams below show subdivision of the field for heifers and ewes and lambs.
Heifers:
Ewes and lambs:
Project Updates:
Article: Establishing feed availability key to early decision making on Welsh farms
Video: An update from Rhiwgriafol Demonstration Site with Lisa Roberts (Red Meat Technical Officer)