A farming method has been found to cut winter housing costs for beef herds in half.

According to a new research project funded by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), bale grazing suckler beef cattle in winter can produce a net financial benefit of £1.58 per head per day.

The project, which is part of a larger initiative by Pasture for Life and Innovative Farmers, looked at seven beef farms across the UK that are currently practising bale grazing.

It aims to quantify the impacts of this method on forage quality, quantity, and soil health post-bale grazing.

The findings were compiled in a report titled Economics of Bale Grazing.

Emily Grant of beef and sheep consultancy Forrit, the report author, said that they asked farmers for details of their bale grazing system, any key cost savings, and wider non-financial benefits compared with housing.

She said: "In general, the cost savings come from making hay rather than silage, not buying and bedding down with straw, reduced fuel and labour costs as farmers shift from using tractors to muck out to UTVs to go and move electric fences.

"Setting out bales as soon as they are made also significantly reduces handling and storage costs.

"Our cost-benefit analysis on one of the farms showed a net financial benefit when bale grazing of £1.58 per head per day, which is approximately half the housing cost."

The report also highlighted some potential downsides, including the unavailability of pasture for grazing once shut up with bales, the loss of phosphate and potash input from imported straw, and the difficulty in dropping fixed costs of machinery and buildings.

Aberdeenshire farmer and trial co-ordinator Nikki Yoxall said: "The benefits of bale grazing have barely been explored in the UK, so we are delighted that not only is it working well for our animals, but it is also providing a business case for this practice to be adopted by the wider farming sector.

"Outwintering is the best option for our cattle, but it can create all kinds of problems for the environment and that can put a big strain on farmers.

"But so far, bale grazing is having a wide range of positive effects across several farm and soil types, as well as saving us money and time."

AHDB is running a webinar on November 5 at 7pm to discuss the Economics of Bale Grazing with Emily Grant and Katie Evans.