07/11/06
Abundant grass growth throughout a relatively mild
early autumn will have been welcomed by farms short of forage,
but the key issue over the winter months is to manage sward cover
carefully to ensure optimum yields and quality at turnout.
According to British Seed Houses, optimum sward heights at housing
should be 6-7cm, and this needs to be maintained over the winter
period to avoid the risk of winter kill and ensure the ideal cover
come the spring.
"Manage your swards over winter through timely grazing," advises
the company's Michael Shannon, "and don't just shut the gate
until February. "Grassland management has to be a year-round
commitment to achieve the best production."
In order to encourage the application of simple sward management
practice British Seed Houses is offering visitors to Stackyard
one of its new Sward Sticks free of charge.
All you need to do to obtain a Sward Stick and a user guide is
text your name, farm name and post code to 88010 beginning your
message with the code BSH SWARD STICK.
Alternatively, you can telephone Jacky Hayden at British Seed
Houses on 01522 868714 or E-mail jacky.hayden@bshlincoln.co.uk
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