AN initial sampling of silage making around the country by nutrition specialist Frank Wright Ltd reveals low yields and dry matters, but the sugar and nitrogen content is good. (No sampling was done in FMD restricted areas.)
Wide variations were found in the pre-cut samples. The survey suggests that "the first cut will be light and wet, although what is going into the clamp should ferment well," according to the firm's technical director, Dr John Allen. He believes that the low first-cut yield coupled with low silage stocks coming out of last winter herald a potential shortfall in silage for next winter.
"The early indications are that supplementary feed will have to be fed earlier this autumn to compensate for the shortfall in forage - unless we get a thumping good second crop," said Dr Allen.
Updated: 10:42 Thursday, June 14, 2001
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