Comparative Costs of Forage

In Northern Ireland, feed costs for the dairy herd (concentrates and forage) account for almost five pence per litre (36%) of the total production costs. This represents a major cost area and thus must be targeted for reduction if milk is to be produced cheaply. There has been considerable interest in Northern Ireland recently in alternative forages for dairy cows. Interest has been created with new varieties of maize and the perception that intakes can be increased in high merit herds if an alternative forage is provided in the diet. The costs and benefits of feeding alternatives have been largely ignored in the drive for higher intakes. Figure 1 shows the cost of producing one MJ of energy of each crop. Energy contents of the various crops may vary from season to season and from farm to farm during the same growing season. Effects on increased intake have not been considered in this Technical note.

The lowland rate for area aid of approximately £220per hectare has been used in the appropriate calculations. It will not be possible for all dairy farms to avail of area aid as not all have eligible land.

The costs of applying lime or spreading slurry have been ignored in each case. It should be noted that high rates of slurry can substantially reduce the amount of fertiliser required for most crops.

It has been assumed that all field operations were carried out by a contractor so that comparisons could be made more easily. Costings would have to be adjusted for cultivations made using owned machinery.

Forage maize has been costed without a plastic mulch included at the time of establishment. This would cost a further £270per hectare.

The cost of using one hectare of land for one year has been assumed to be £250 (£100/acre). This represents an approximate conacre charge for one year. Some crops have shorter growing seasons than others, however it has been assumed that land is required for a full year.

Depreciation on silos and storage buildings have been included where appropriate.

Yields can vary considerably. This has a very large effect on the cost per kilogram of dry matter produced. Weather conditions, soil type and husbandry methods will all have an impact on the yield produced.

These figures are only a guide and should be tailored to individual circumstances. The choice of crops on individual farms is likely to be limited by soil and climatic conditions.

Technical Note prepared by Alan Hopps,

Greenmount College of Agriculture and Horticulture, Antrim, BT41 4PU

ISBN 1 85527 288 1