High forage yields are crucial to the profitability of livestock farming businesses. High yields not only make better use of arable land, but also reduce operating costs, thereby improving feed margins. By optimizing forage production, farms can feed more animals while reducing their dependence on external inputs.
Beyond the economic aspect, high yields bring other benefits. They make farms more resilient to climatic variations by building up sufficient forage reserves for difficult periods. However, it is important to note that increasing yields can affect forage quality. Balanced management of quantity and quality, in particular through cutting management, is essential to ensure optimum performance.
Production costs for forage systems
The cost of forage production varies greatly from company to company. According to the Agritel database, (2018) comparing the most efficient farms (top group) and the least efficient (bottom group), there are considerable differences. Production costs in the tail group can reach 350 $/t dry matter (DM), more than double the 157 $/t DM observed in the top group. The average farm is around 235 $/t dry matter. This disparity is mainly due to better management of machinery and higher yields in high-performance companies.
How to improve yields
Many factors influence yields, including weather conditions, forage type, mowing time and height, choice of mixtures and cultivars, and harvesting and storage methods. To maximize production, it's crucial to adopt the right cutting regimen.
Before planting grassland or pasture, it's important to prepare the soil properly and ensure that fertilizer requirements are met. These key steps improve the soil's cultural profile, facilitating germination and meeting plants' nutritional needs. Liming, for example, adjusts soil pH to make fertilizing elements available, while improving soil structure.
The choice of forage species is also essential. Selection criteria include yield potential, nutritional value, meadow life and soil characteristics. In Quebec, perennial crops such as alfalfa and red clover for legumes, and timothy, fescue, orchardgrass and bromegrass for grasses, are commonly used for their high yield potential.
How to measure performance
Yield evaluation is an integral part of good management practices in forage production. It makes it possible to optimize input use, compare fields and adjust crop rotations. It also facilitates profitability assessment and integrates risk management into business decisions.
Several methods are available to assess the productivity of meadows and pastures. In pastures, it is possible to estimate the quantity of grass ingested by the animals by measuring biomass before and after the grazing period, using a herbometer or a 1 m² quadrat. For grassland, yield sensors attached to farm machinery, or the measurement of the 10 % weight of harvested bales, make it possible to accurately monitor yields. For more information on these methods, please consult this video.
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The Mon Système Fourrager platform
To facilitate yield management, the My Forage System offers simple, intuitive interfaces. It enables users to monitor their yields in real time, optimize their practices and improve the overall performance of their operation. Discover how this platform can transform your forage management with the available demo. here.