Mark & Bethany Jarvis
Gelli Goll Farm, South Wales
Understanding the benefits of growing a cereal and legume mix as a complete feed
Gelli Goll is a Beef, Sheep and Arable farm on the outskirts of Cowbridge which is currently run by Mark Jarvis and his daughter Bethany. The farm currently operates on a platform of 450 acres. The system comprises a beef finishing enterprise, where between 100 – 150 Charolais and Limousin Store cattle are purchased at 12 months of age and finished on farm, selling at around 24 months of age. The farm also has a flock of 750 New Zealand Suffolk Cross Mules and 200 Welsh Mules and followers.
As a means to become more self-sufficient and create a complete winter diet, this year the farm will be growing a cereal and legume mix, which is an eligible mix for the Growing for the Environment Grant. In order to meet livestock nutritional needs, it is often required to bring in additional protein. By growing this crop we aim to meet the demand without relying on bought in feed and increasing home grown protein values by between 30 – 50 % along with increasing yields, compared with single variety crops.
There are also several other known benefits in incorporating legumes, such as their impact on providing residual nitrogen in the soil whilst also eliminating leaf fungal disease, removing the need for fungicides and insecticides. Therefore, in this trial we will review the overall suitability of the crop in an arable rotation along with comparing yield, quality and feeding values compared to single variety crops.
The aims of this project are to:
- Develop a cost effective and productive winter-feeding strategy based on growing a cereal and legume mix
- Measure the yield, quality and economics of growing a higher protein crop
- Reduce the need to introduce additional inputs, and therefore improve self sufficiency
The project will also contribute to the Sustainable Land Management outcomes including:
- Reducing farm greenhouse gas emissions
- Maintaining and enhancing the ecosystem
- Improvement in maximising carbon storage and sequestration whilst reducing the whole-farm carbon footprint