Knockterra wins SW Scotland Grassland forage competition

Lead dairy farmers, Bryce and Robert Sloan, Darnlaw, triumphed in both the on-farm and Ayrshire dairy categories with a cracking grass silage yielding an ME of 12.1MJ/kg of dry matter with protein values at a colossal 15.7. The dry matter was particularly high at 41%.

It was also a great year for Adam and Jan Wardrop and daughter Linsey too, when their pit sample from Knockterra landed the on-farm beef honours for their first year competing.

Their winning feed which was put forward by independent agricultural merchant, Jack Lamb, produced ME figures of 11.9; protein levels of 12.6 and a 33.3% dry matter, also came second in the West of Scotland event and third in last month's AgriScot beef and sheep section.

"We always aim to produce the best quality silage possible but so much of the making is down to the weather," said Adam.

Some of the winning silage that is fed to the youngstock over the winter months Ref:RH250222203 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

"There is a science to making good quality forages but if you cut it at the wrong time and don't get good, dry, weather at harvest, you'll never make the best feed."

Last year was probably more challenging than most too with cold, dry, frosty weather in April/ May leading to a late spring and then some pretty wet periods at the end of June before drying up significantly in July and August.

In saying that, the Wardrops who run 200 all-year-round calving cows and 220 Mule ewes on their 390-grassland unit, were able to harvest at their usual time mid-June, with their winning cut harvested on June 14.

Drip fed from March onwards, most of the grazing and silage ground at Knockterra is given an application of slurry from the in-wintered youngstock housed on slats. This is then followed up with split applications of a 22:4:14 fertiliser, with 1.5cwt early April and the same again at the end of the month.

With most of the ground comprising heavy clay soils and rock, the farm doesn't have many issues with moles. Adam does however look to get the best out of his soils, by using a Wright sward lifter when possible to reduce the risk of water logging and boost grass growth. He also prefers to use a Cambridge roller rather than a flat roller for the same reason.

Adam, who is the fourth generation of Wardrops to take over the business, is also an advocate of reseeding and will on average do one field per year if possible.

"You get far more rewards with younger leys especially when youngstock are grazing it. Before we would always use an ACT Trojan silage grass seed mix, but I'm going to try one of Jonny Watson's silage mixes next year when he has been sponsoring the AgriScot silage event.

It was a young ley that producing the winning crop too, which again was cut, teddied and harvested by the family with their own machinery.

The Wardrops use a JCB telehandler with a McHale shear grab which leaves a sealed face on the silage pit Ref:RH250222200 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

"We do all the silage work ourselves when the boys, William who is self-employed and Aaron who works at Faslane, can take holidays to help out. It works out well as everyone is keen to make the best silage possible," said Adam, adding that William's wife Ruth, who works with Savills, also helps out although the two of them are about to move into a nearby beef farm at Stair, which will require more silage to be produced.

Depending on the weather, the aim is to cut when the sugars in the grass are at their peak and before flowering, therefore, two Krone mower conditioners are used from 11am onwards, with a tedder following to ensure a better 24-hr wilt.

Similarly, weather dependent, the team aim to start the following day at mid-day with their own self-propelled Claas forage harvester to bring in the crop which is carefully rolled and compacted.

"William buckrakes the silage into the pit and someone else rolls it – that's the most important part in silage making," Adam said adding that they never use an additive.

"We like to get the grass well packed down and then sheeted and well weighted down. We use a new sheet of cling film first, followed by a new black sheet and then a sheet from the previous year, before then placing a weighted green cover on top and old tyres," he said.

It is pretty much a case of all hands on deck at silage time though with friends and relatives helping out as much as possible. Most years, Knockterra can have up to four silage trailers going at any one time and two vehicles in the pit compacting the grass.

On average 180acres of first cut are harvested, and once it's in the pit, provided the weather holds up, it's all systems go in preparation for a second cut the next day with 3cwt of a 22:4:14 fertiliser applied.

The Wardrops have 200 cows producing Limousin-sired calves, which are sold as stores through Ayr Market Ref:RH250222210 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

Having put in so much work and effort to produce the best preserved grass possible, the team also aim to get the most out of it as a feed by using a McHale shear grab which leaves a sealed face it and reduces the risk of spoilage.

Just as importantly, the business is reaping the benefits of last year's superior quality crop, with their store cattle 20-30kg heavier than the previous year's counterparts which were fed the exact same rations. The only difference was the quality of silage in the ration.

"We always feed the quality silage to the young stock with the cows having to take second best, and our young beasts are looking really well and will definitely be heavier this year."

Proof of the pudding has been in the eating too and the fact that 18-month-old Limousin crosses fed the same amount of Norvite meal and silage scaled in on average at 500kg and sold to £1460 to average £1280 for some 60 stots and heifers, sold over various weeks through Ayr Mart.

The good thing is, they have an abundance of first cut silage to keep them going through the spring as it looks like it is going to be an extremely costly year when feed prices are soaring and you can no longer buy fertiliser at present due to the situation in Russia and Ukraine.

Adam already has plans to reduce his use of artificial fertiliser by analysing his own slurry and buying hen pen instead, but it looks like we will all need to do a lot more to feed our livestock and ultimately ourselves in future.

At Knockterra they breed all their own replacements, and any that dont make the grade get sold as stores through Ayr market Ref:RH250222229 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

FARMfacts:

Family: Adam and his wife Jan and family of William, Aaron and Linsey who all help out on the farm with Linsey working full time at home alongside her father.

Farm history: Adam's great grand-father took over the farm in 1888 and bought it in 1921. Hence Adam is the fourth generation of Wardrops to farm at Knockterra which looks set to remain in the family for a good few years yet with sons William, Aaron and daughter Linsey, all keen on agriculture.

Livestock: 200 Limousin cross cows which are bulled to a Limousin to produce replacement females and store cattle sold at 18 months of age through Craig Wilson's local Ayr Market. Some 220 Mule ewes are also kept which are tupped to Texel and Beltex rams with all progeny sold finished off grass deadweight.

Future policy: Reduce reliance on costly artificial fertiliser by relying more on analysed home produced slurry, and locally produced hen pen and perhaps produce just one bigger cut of silage to maintain livestock numbers.

Home to the Wardrop family Ref:RH250222232 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

ONTHE spot:

Best investment? "Satellite navigation system for John Deere tractor, which allows for more precision application of fertiliser and comfort cow mats for the slatted sheds which have made a huge difference."

Top tip for making the best silage: "Buckrake as much as possible and spread out the grass in long thin layers for a more even spread and more effective compaction. Two machines in the pit if at all possible."

What are you looking forward to most with eased Covid restrictions: "Getting rid of face masks although my six brothers-in-law and one brother look better with theirs on!

What plans do you have to tackle a future without financial support: "I think we have to reduce our reliance on energy and create our own either with solar panels or turbines, but we are located in the flight path to Prestwick airport here so it's not so easy. I also believe we have to look at clover more to help curtail our need for artificial nitrogen, but spraying for docks always kills out the clover."

Favourite restaurant: "My wife's own cooking, or if you want a guid fish supper, you canny beat the Wee Hurry in Troon."