Farm Contractor & Large Scale Farmer
    Twitter LinkedIn
    • FREE Email Newsletters
    • About Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe
    • Contact Us
    Twitter LinkedIn
    Podcast
    Farm Contractor & Large Scale Farmer
    • News
      • Arable & Agronomy
      • Dealership News
      • Environmental Land Management Scheme/Policy
      • Event News
      • Health & Safety
      • Machinery
      • People
      • World News
    • Farm Machinery
      • Amenity & Maintenance
      • Cultivations
      • Drilling
      • Grassland Equipment
      • Harvesting
      • Muck & Slurry
      • Sprayers
      • Telehandlers
      • Tractors
      • Tractor of the Year
      • Tyres & Tracks
      • Whatever happened to?
    • Precision Farming
    • Markets & Policy
    • Profiles
      • National Arable and Grassland Awards
      • Company Profiles
      • Reader Profiles
    • Livestock
      • Beef
      • Dairy
      • Sheep
    • Magazines
      1. September 2025 issue
      2. August 2025 issue
      3. 2025 Drills and Seeds supplement
      4. July 2025 issue
      5. June 2025 issue
      6. Cereals event guide 2025
      7. May 2025 issue
      8. April 2025 issue
      9. March 2025 issue
      10. 2025 Tyre Developments supplement
      11. February 2025 issue
      12. National Arable and Grassland Awards supplement
      13. January 2025 issue
      14. December 2024 issue
      15. November 2024 issue
      16. October 2024 issue
      17. September 2024 issue
      18. August 2024 Issue
      19. 2024 Drills and Seeds supplement
      20. July 2024 Issue
      21. Cereals Supplement
      22. June 2024 Issue
      23. May 2024 Issue
      24. April 2024 Issue
      25. Tyres and Tracks Supplement
      26. March 2024 Issue
      27. National Arable & Grassland Award – Meet the Finalists
      28. February 2024 Issue
      29. January 2024 Issue
      30. December 2023
      31. Agritechnica Preview Supplement
      32. November 2023
      33. October 2023
      Featured

      September 2025 issue available now

      By Matthew TiltSeptember 1, 2025
      Recent

      September 2025 issue available now

      September 1, 2025

      August 2025 issue available now

      August 1, 2025

      2025 Drills and Seeds supplement available now

      August 1, 2025
    • Events
    • Podcast
    Farm Contractor & Large Scale Farmer
    Beef

    Hybrid brassicas offer low cost quality feed solution

    chrislyddonBy chrislyddonJuly 6, 20162 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email

    Sowing hybrid brassicas in July or August will produce quality forage crops of 5-7 tonnes per hectare in 10-12 weeks at a cost of just 4-5p/kgDM, according to Germinal GB speaking at the Livestock Event Forage Field.

    Whether used as a break crop between grassland leys, a short term solution to forage shortfalls or an out-wintering fodder, varieties including Swift and Redstart hybrid brassica offer a low-cost quality forage option.

    “These crops are quick to establish and will produce good quantities of forage of over 70 D-value and 15-18% crude protein,” said Germinal GB’s Ben Wixey, speaking during tours at the Livestock Event Forage Field.

    “Old pastures destined for re-seeding next spring or fields that have been badly poached over recent weeks could be ideal sites for growing a catch crop of hybrid brassicas.

    “There is still ample time to spray off an old sward and establish a crop of Redstart or Swift hybrid brassica capable of producing valuable high quality fodder before the end of the autumn. Similar results can be achieved by direct drilling hybrid brassicas into cereal stubbles.

    “Stock strip-grazed on brassicas should be supplemented with baled silage or straw that offers a good source of roughage, as well as a run-back area and easy access to water.”

    Tweet
    Share
    Share
    Pin
    Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email
    Previous ArticleDairy prices turning the corner but farmers still not seeing full returns, says NFU
    Next Article Farm Safety Week: transport
    chrislyddon

    Read Similar Stories

    Hi-Spec to introduce new diet feeder at Royal Highland

    June 16, 2025

    Livestock ban from Hungary and Slovakia after confirmed foot and mouth case

    March 10, 2025

    Campaign launched to battle against bluetongue

    March 5, 2025
    Most Read Stories

    New crop protection and nutrition options from Kverneland

    September 12, 2025

    Front mowers and CTF-ready butterfly units from Krone

    September 11, 2025

    Kverneland updates shearbolt plough range

    September 11, 2025
    Farm Contractor & Large Scale Farmer

    The UK's leading agricultural machinery journal

    Twitter LinkedIn
    © 2024 MA Agriculture Ltd, a Mark Allen Group company

    Privacy Policy | Cookies Policy | Terms & Conditions

    • Farmers Weekly
    • AA Farmer
    • Poultry News
    • Pig World

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.