Cereals offer flexible option to bridge forage gaps on UK dairy farms

Dairy farmers are being urged to consider cereals as a flexible solution to help fill grass and maize forage gaps this year. 

With the weather variability in spring affecting grass growth in some areas, cereals offer an ‘insurance policy’, says Lientjie Colahan, silage technical support at Lallemand Animal Nutrition. 

“A key benefit of cereals is their flexibility,” she explains.  

“You don’t need to decide how to use the crop until after you’ve had two or even three cuts of grass silage – allowing you to make the most informed decision based on results from your own farm.”

Choose cereal usage based on grass silage analysis

Lientjie recommends using first and second cut grass silage analysis to guide decisions on cereal harvests. 

“For example, if your grass silage yields look low, wholecrop silage is a fantastic option – it’s a huge clamp filler,” she explains. 

“However, if you’ve got lots of silage, but it’s dry and lower in energy, crimped cereals provide a good option for achieving a high-energy feed.” 

Wholecrop cereal silage can also improve ration quality, she adds. 

“It helps by adding effective fibre to balance lush early-cut, high-ME grass silage, or buffering wetter, more acidic silage.”

Cereal harvest timing depends on dry matter content 

Lientjie says the key difference between producing wholecrop or crimped grains is the crop’s dry matter (DM), which dictates harvest timing. 

“Wholecrop is harvested at 35–40% dry matter,” she explains.  

“Whereas crimped grain has a much higher dry matter and is a concentrate.” 

She adds: “Having the option to produce either, based on how you need to balance your grass or maize silage, offers farmers a huge level of flexibility.”

Effective harvesting and clamping are essential 

The successful use of cereals for forage – whether you are ensiling or crimping – depends on harvesting and clamping practices, Lientjie explains. 

“When cutting, it’s recommended to set the forager to a shorter chop length for better consolidation in the clamp,” she says. 

“Cereals have a waxy cuticle, so achieving compaction can be more difficult than with grass.” 

She adds: “For cereal crops taken as a wholecrop silage, a small grain processor in the harvester is always recommended for better digestibility at feed-out.”

Wholecrop silage needs strong compaction 

Wholecrop silage contains more straw and dry matter than grass, so generally needs tighter compaction, Lientjie explains. 

“If not compacted properly, oxygen pockets can form in the clamp, increasing the risk of spoilage from yeasts and moulds,” she says. 

“So, it’s recommended to use your narrowest clamp to reduce feed-out face time and minimise dry matter losses.”  

When filling the clamp, she advises spreading the crop in the thinnest layers possible. 

“Spread layers no thicker than 20cm for optimal consolidation and seal the clamp quickly to retain energy in the forage.”

Use a crop- and condition-specific inoculant to protect forage quality 

To prevent spoilage in cereal forages, Lientjie advises using a crop- and condition-specific inoculant.  

She explains: “Magniva Platinum Wholecrop, which contains antifungal and acidifying bacteria, is an excellent choice for preserving the quality of forage made from cereals. 

“This contains Lactobacillus hilgardii CNCM I-4785 and Lactobacillus buchneri NCIMB 40788, which reduce spoilage risk. 

“It also contains Pediococcus pentosaceus NCIMB 12455 to speed up fermentation.” 

This combination alongside fibre-digesting enzymes supports a rapid, stable fermentation and helps preserve feed quality, Lientjie says. 

“By investing in clamp management and using the right inoculant, farmers can maximise homegrown forage and reduce reliance on bought-in feed this winter,” she concludes. 

Read more advice on making the most of forage for cereals in our Wholecrop Guide.