Knowledgebase
Kingshay's Knowledgebase - Forage
The terms ‘herbal ley’ and multi-species swards’ are often used synonymously. They typically refer to temporary grasslands made up of a mix of grass, legume and her...
Historically, diverse species swards were the domain of specialist systems. However, the benefits of planting a diverse mix of species make them a valuable resource for m...
Mycotoxins are a hidden risk in feeds and forages which can lead to milk suppression, suboptimal fertility and health issues. Once present, they are impossible to remove,...
Natural Capital is the buzzword of the moment – but what does it really mean and why is it essential to farmers? This insight publication looks at why natural capital i...
Nitrates in forage can reduce milk yields and cause fertility problems, can turn silage butyric and even cause death in stock. This Farming Note covers: How to ens...
Dramatically reducing nitrogen application rates in an attempt to save costs in light of escalating fertiliser prices could potentially be a false economy compromising fo...
Understanding the value of home produced nutrients and balancing them with bought-in fertiliser as part of a Nutrient Management Plan has never been so important consider...
The costs of ammonium nitrate and urea have more than doubled in the last year, taking prices to over £500 and £600 per tonne respectively. Optimising fertiliser use sh...
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Where conditions are not conducive to optimum maize growth, maize yields could be substantially reduced and this may lead to winter forage shortages. Assessing the cro...
A 15% dock infestation in a good quality sward will typically result in £80/acre of lost milk per year on an organic farm and £120 on a non-organic system. Without acce...
Kingshay's recent Forage Costings Report clearly showed grazed grass to be a very cost effective forage. A good quality grazing sward can produce a litre of milk for abou...
Phosphorus is an essential element for soil, plant and animal health but its high cost and potential as a pollutant makes it essential not to overapply. This Farming Note...