Counting the cost of reseeding

Reseeding is not cheap. Looking at the costs from Kildalton College, the cost per acre can quickly rise to £200 with some methods. So how can farmers justify the investment?

By Peter Young

The poorer the pasture the greater return you get for your investment. Pasture with a lower proportion of perennial has lower digestibility throughout the season.

With dairy cows, the effects of poorer pastures are clearly seen. Protein percentage can increase by up to 0.1 per cent with higher digestible swards.

New varieties: Plant breeders are starting to see that the highest yield might not be the most desirable. Many new varieties have a different growth curve throughout the season. The Department of Agriculture published information on varieties for autumn growth for the first time this year. Grasses high in sugar, being developed by scientists in Wales, which lead to increased intake, are another example of the focus away from yield alone.

Early growth in the spring and late growth in the autumn can be used to ensure a longer grazing season. A long grazing season is well tested to reduce costs in both beef and dairying.

But the return from reseeding does not stand alone in any management system. Better pastures have to be put in context. Ask yourself how good are the swards you have and how well you are managing the grass that grows?

Ryegrass survival in swards depends on good grazing management. Age of pasture is not a good indicator. Some grazing pastures are 20 years old and have over 80 per cent ryegrass. Poor management has to be addressed if it is the reason for low perennial ryegrass in swards. If it is not corrected your investment will soon be lost as pastures revert to poorer grasses. Addressing soil fertility is also critical.

How much grass do you need? There is no point in having grass growing over the hedges if your stocking rate is low. Nitrogen usage and clover content are big factors.

Last year, the benefits of high ryegrass pasture were evident, with poorer pastures under-performing. The effect of a good roadway system, however, was even greater. It allowed you to get on and off to graze while minimising poaching damage.