Reseeding can feel like a major investment but if you look at the numbers they are actually very persuasive. Yes, there is an initial outlay, but if you consider the DM, animal and milk gains to be had, it is definitely worthwhile. Reseeding can feel like a major investment but if you look at the numbers they are actually very persuasive. Yes, there is an initial outlay, but if you consider the DM, animal and milk gains to be had, it is definitely worthwhile.
On average, a reseed will cost around £650 per hectare (ha). After a reseed, new grass, in a two-cut system, will typically provide an ME of 133,320 MJ/ha.
This energy is capable of producing more than 25,150 litres of milk, 2050 kg of lamb or 2400 kg of beef.
Using average milk and meat prices that equates to:
- £6,966 worth of milk
- £8,544 worth of beef
- £8,286 worth of lamb
Animals are also more likely to eat young, high quality grass.
New swards are significantly more digestible and offer higher protein content. Research has shown that animals will eat more of varieties with a high digestibility (D-value) and are able to absorb a greater proportion of the feed which they have eaten. Achieving just a 1% improvement in digestibility can improve animal output by 5%.
Figures are based on:
- The five-year rolling average price for milk of 27.7p (AHDB Farmgate milk prices 11/5/18)
- The average UK Beef price of 356ppk (for 2013 – 2016, AHDB)
- The average UK Lamb price of 404.2ppk (for 2013 – 2016, AHDB)