Feeding & Grazing Management

The methods of grazing a brassica forage crop will vary between crop types, stock classes and the resources available to you. Some general suggestions are presented in the following sections.

Root crops

Strip grazing these crops will achieve three key outcomes:

1. Improved utilisation:

By waiting until animals have cleaned up a strip before moving them on, crop utilisation will be improved compared with ad hoc access to the entire crop.

2. Improved nutrition:

The nutrient profile of tops and bulbs are very different. By encouraging animals to eat bulbs and tops together within a 24-hour period, a balance of nutrient intake and therefore nutrient utilisation can be improved.

3. Less wastage:

Strip grazing will reduce risk of chipping and wastage of crop through treading on the crop before it has been grazed, and reduced intake through faecal and soil contamination of the crop.

Forage kale, rape and leafy turnips

Strip grazing will improve utilisation and, combined with back-fencing, will allow maximum regrowth potential for forage rape and leafy turnips. Realistically, particularly for summer lamb fattening on brassica crops, set stocking remains the more practical option for brassica feeding.

Prevent sudden unrestricted access

Sudden unrestricted access to a brassica forage crop can upset the balance of rumen microbes, resulting in poor animal performance, scouring and rumen acidosis, particularly in cattle. Start a feeding programme by grazing the crop for no more than 1-2 hours per day, building up to a maximum allowance over at least 7-10 days. Allow rumen microbes time to adjust to the high-quality forage.

Most animals going onto a brassica crop have come off pasture. Pasture is usually of lower quality than brassicas, and the rumen contains different types of microbes than those needed to digest brassicas. If animals suddenly access brassicas, there can be a sudden overgrowth of the wrong types of microbes, which produce large quantities of acid (rumen acidosis). Reduce risk of rumen acidosis by offering animals other non-brassica feed (pasture, silage and/or hay) before moving animals onto crop. Pasture or supplements as part of the diet help maintain a normal rumen function. Feeding supplements before a new break of brassica reduces the risk of dominant, hungry animals gorging/ overconsuming brassica.

Feeding brassica crops

Feed brassicas as part of a balanced diet

Animal performance on brassicas is best when crops are fed strategically as part of a balanced diet. For example, the high protein and energy of brassicas complement stalky summer ryegrasses, which can be deficient in energy content and protein, or whole-crop cereal and maize silages, which are low in protein. Feed dry stock no more than 70-80% of the diet as brassica, once transitioned onto crop. Feed lactating dairy cows no more than 33% of their diet as brassica if milk is being sent to the factory.

Give animals water when grazing brassica crop

Although the water content of brassicas is high, it is recommended that animals have access to clean, fresh water at all times, as a limited water intake may cause an animal’s dry matter intake to decline.

Recognise potential for stock health problems

Feeding brassicas can sometimes be associated with animal health problems. Risk can often be avoided by good agronomic and grazing management.

Feed extra fibre prior to and while grazing brassica crops

Forage brassica crops are highly digestible, and don’t contain much ‘effective fibre’ (the sort of fibre that encourages animals to chew). Feeding extra effective fibre means:

More chewing and increased salivation, which helps maintain rumen pH and fewer digestive upsets.
Slower flow of feed through the rumen and gut, with a more effective rumen fermentation.
Increased cud-chewing and more effective digestion. Extra fibre should be given prior to and throughout the brassica feeding period, through access to pasture, hay or straw. This will help to prevent gorging, help rumen microbes adjust to the feed and help to maintain normal rumen function. It is suggested that 20-30% of the diet is fed as hay, straw, or runoff pasture.
The requirement for extra dietary fibre is greater for cattle than sheep.