| Grass & Silage
Crichton Royal plays host to ScotGrass 2016
ScotGrass 2016 is held on Wednesday 18th May and returns to Acrehead Farm at the SRUC Dairy Research Unit,
Crichton Royal Dumfries.
he event is sponsored by Volac
and gives farmers and
contractors the opportunity to
see a wide range of products
on show for the first time as
manufacturers put new
machinery through its paces.
Event organiser Duncan Russell said:
“ScotGrass 2016 is on course to be even
bigger than the 2013 event and farm manager
Hugh McClymont is reporting good grass
growth and with some dry weather the site will
be in excellent condition with plenty of grass for
the event.”
“The event will give farmers and contractors
the chance to see new technology at work in
practical farm conditions. Alongside the
working demonstrations there will be advice
covering all levels of grass conservation and
livestock issues as well as a full static
exhibition,” added Duncan.
Volac regional product manager Jackie
Bradley says, ““As well as our Ecosyl experts
advising on best practice for silage-making on
the forage conservation section of the event’s
Knowledge Trail, our stand will also offer
practical information on the latest techniques
for minimising losses and maximising feed
value,” she added.
This will include a focus on the importance of
T
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achieving a fast, efficient fermentation for
producing consistently better silage.
Meanwhile, for baled silage makers, the stand
will also provide an opportunity to help support
breast cancer research, with Volac using
ScotGrass to raise the profile of its pink bale
campaign.
The stand will also play host to a competition
with chances to win instant prizes including
silage additive, silage bale film, jackets pens
and much more.
There are four stations to the Knowledge
Trail, alongside Volac and AHDB there is a
conservation station which will give practical
help on forage and a station dedicated to
Establishment Techniques which will look at
best practice forage establishment.
AHDB Dairy is giving visitors the opportunity
to learn about the practicality of implementing
controlled traffic systems in grassland and take
a look at cows managed on a cut and carry
system.
Debbie McConnell, R&D Manager at AHDB
Dairy says, “With an estimated 85% of the area
of a field covered every year by tractor tyres,
the potential impact of compaction from
machinery can be significant. Recent AHDB
Dairy funded research is showing how
controlled traffic farming (CTF) principles,
typically used in the arable sector, can have
benefits for soil structure and sward
performance in grass silage operations.”
At the Knowledge Trail session farmers will
be able to discuss the pro’s and con’s of
managing controlled traffic systems and find
out about the latest research and development
activities in grass and forage science including
grass breeding, precision technology,
alternative forages and grass analysis
techniques.
At the Cut and Carry Knowledge Trail visitors
will hear about the latest findings and
economics from trials comparing high yielding
cows managed on cut and carry or grazing
systems. The impact of cut and carry systems
on grassland management and sward
utilisation will also be discussed.
“As volatility in the price of purchased
feedstuffs increases, fresh grass, has an
important role to play in reducing feed costs.
Although grazed grass remains our lowest cost
feeding option for dairy cows, with high yielding
animals it can often be difficult to strike a
balance between maximising grass utilisation
and maintaining animal performance,” said
Debbie.
AHDB Dairy can be found at Stand 202 and
on the knowledge trail station in the Acre Head
dairy unit.
May 2016 | Farming Monthly | 25