Gelli Goll Project Update - Final Project Update

Key results:

  • The diet resulted in average daily liveweight gains (DLWG) of 1.01 kg/day (Group 1) and 0.82 kg/day (Group 2). This fell short of the predicted target of 1.1-1.2 kg/day, despite overall intake matching predictions.
  • Subsequent analysis revealed that insufficient dietary protein was the primary cause for the cattle's failure to meet DLWG targets, limiting both fibre digestion and growth.
  • Future recommendations include adding high-protein molasses or rapemeal, or proportionally increasing higher-protein grass silage in the mix (potentially by optimising clover content and cutting dates).

Background:

Gelli Goll is a beef, sheep and arable farm on the outskirts of Cowbridge which is run by Mark Jarvis and his daughter Bethany. The farm currently operates on a platform of 450 acres and comprises a beef finishing enterprise where between 100 – 150 Charlois 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 of becoming more self-sufficient and reducing reliance on bought in feed, Mark and Bethany were interested in growing a cereal and legume mix so that the farm could produce a winter feed for the finishing cattle.

Purpose of the work:

The aims of the project were to:-

  1. Develop a cost effective and productive winter-feeding strategy based on growing cereal and legume mix.
  2. Measure the quality and economics of growing a higher protein crop.
  3. Reduce the need to introduce additional inputs, and therefore improve self sufficiency.

What we did:

The fields were soil sampled prior to establishing the crop, which followed a winter barley/stubble turnips mix.  The following field operations were undertaken from 25 April 2024:-      

  • Sprayed off existing sward using 4 litres/ha of glyphosate;
  • Applied seed at a seed rate of 100kg/acre of Western Seeds Sovereign Combicrop which is a mixture of peas, oats and barley;
  • Fertiliser applied at establishment at 125kg/acre of 20.10.10.

Visual assessments were carried out by the farmer throughout the growing season until the crop was harvested on 30th July into a mixture of bales and clamp. The whole crop silage was analysed for its quality and fed to the cattle over the winter along with grass silage and rolled barley.

Outcomes:

For finishing cattle, as seen in figure 1, the wholecrop silage offers valuable starch (17.2%), crucial for weight gain and carcass finish, but is low in protein (9.1% CP). The grass silage, conversely, offers a high-protein (14.1% CP) and high-energy forage (10.9 ME, 68.1% D-Value) from digestible fibre. However, it typically lacks the high starch content needed for finishing.

Feeding the forages together is beneficial as the wholecrop's starch complements the grass silage's digestible fibre and protein, creating a more balanced energy profile. This mix promotes a stable rumen environment, minimising acidosis risk, and enhances overall palatability, leading to higher dry matter intake.
 

Figure 1. NIR Analysis of the wholecrop and grass silages.

Throughout the winter the combicrop was mixed with grass silage using a feeder bedder and then fed to two groups of cattle. A total of 18/kg/head of grass and combicrop was fed once daily, with both forages mixed in equal amounts. The cattle were also fed around 3.5kg of rolled barley split into two feeds. The total intake was in line with predicted intakes for the cattle and the wholecrop costs totalled £29.30/t fed.

The predicted DLWG for the cattle was between 1.1-1.2kg. Neither groups of cattle fed the diet achieved this target, with one group a DLWG of 0.82kg and the other 1kg. Following further analysis of the diet, protein was found to be lacking which would be limiting fibre digestion and protein available for muscle growth, ultimately limiting their DLWG.

The following options could be considered in the future to improve the protein content of the diet:-

  • using a high protein molasses-based liquid which could be poured over the silage/wholecrop in the bedder feeder or poured over the forage for feeding.
  • use a small amount of rapemeal (if it could be sourced and stored) and this would be put in with the silage/wholecrop and fed through the bedder.
  • feeding proportionally more grass silage vs the lower protein and energy combicrop. The farmer could strive to increase the grass silage protein by increasing the clover content of swards and assessing cutting date and protein retention during fermentation.

How to apply on your farm: 

  1. Consider best crop to grow on farm depending on the livestock needs
  2. If feeding combicrop alongside grass silage, strive to increase the protein levels in the grass silage by considering the clover content of sward and cutting date.
  3. Consider if under sowing would work on your farm.
  4. Analyse the silage and combicrop to know its feeding values, allowing for a ration to be formulated to ensure cattle are receiving correct diet for their needs to meet their expected DLWG.
  5. Weigh cattle regularly to monitor their performance. 

Figure 2. The crop being harvested.