Fodder Budget: Planning Early for a Secure Winter

With winter approaching, now is the time to start planning your fodder budget. Unpredictable weather and slower grass growth in late summer can leave farmers relying heavily on their first-cut silage, reducing reserves for the colder months. By assessing your fodder requirements early, you can avoid feed shortages and unnecessary costs as winter draws near.

Why Preparing Early Matters

Starting your fodder budget now ensures that you’ll have enough feed to sustain your herd throughout the winter. Delaying this process can lead to problematic scenarios in late winter/ early spring.

Creating a fodder budget allows you to track your current silage stocks, project how much you’ll need, and act in time if a deficit is identified. By planning now, you can implement solutions like sourcing extra fodder, selling surplus cattle, or planting forage crops to help close the gap.

Planning for Deficits in Winter

Winter feed deficits, particularly moist feed, can have a significant impact on your herd’s health and productivity whilst extending forage reserves. Assessing your current feed stocks gives you time to adjust by securing additional feed, sowing catch crops, or finding alternative feed solutions like those offered by Specialist Nutrition. Our high-quality, sustainable feed options are ideal for closing the gap left by lower grass yields and reduced silage reserves.

Calculating Your Fodder Needs

To plan for winter effectively, it’s essential to calculate your feed requirements based on your herd size, type of animals, and housing period. For example:

Don’t forget to include a 20% buffer to account for longer housing periods or unexpected feeding demands. Specialist Nutrition’s Feed Budget Calculator can simplify this process, helping you estimate exactly how much silage or feed you’ll need to keep your herd healthy and productive all winter long.

You can accurately calculate your herd’s feed requirements using our Feed Budget Calculator here.

Don’t Waste Time, Act Now

By preparing your fodder budget now, you’re ensuring a secure winter for your farm. At Specialist Nutrition, we do more than just provide sustainable feed. Our team visits farms to assess each herd’s specific needs, offering tailored advice that helps you maximise your feed resources and improve efficiency. With personalised support and expert guidance, we ensure you’re fully prepared for winter.

Contact us today to schedule a consultation and optimise your feed plan with Ireland’s leading nutrition specialists.