Knowledgebase
Kingshay's Knowledgebase - Alternative Forages
![Bloat in Cattle](https://www.kingshay.com/wp-content/plugins/kingshay/kingshay-image.php?src=https://www.kingshay.com/wp-content/uploads/picture-1-1.png&w=103&h=103&zc=1&a=c&q=100)
Gases such as methane and carbon dioxide are produced as part of the normal process of digestion in cattle. These gases are usually discharged by eructation (belching). I...
![Catch Crop After Maize](https://www.kingshay.com/wp-content/plugins/kingshay/kingshay-image.php?src=https://www.kingshay.com/wp-content/uploads/silages3.jpg&w=103&h=103&zc=1&a=c&q=100)
A timely maize harvest this season could provide the perfect window of opportunity to plant a highly productive, cost effective, catch crop grass ley. Doing so would prov...
![Grass mixture selection](https://www.kingshay.com/wp-content/plugins/kingshay/kingshay-image.php?src=https://www.kingshay.com/wp-content/uploads/8-april-1024x576.png&w=103&h=103&zc=1&a=c&q=100)
Farmers reseed because renovated swards should yield 33% more in the first year and 10% more thereafter, than a 5 year old ley. However, the seed mixture plays a huge par...
![Grazing – Dealing with Hot Weather and Drought](https://www.kingshay.com/wp-content/plugins/kingshay/kingshay-image.php?src=https://www.kingshay.com/wp-content/uploads/Picture1-33.png&w=103&h=103&zc=1&a=c&q=100)
The UK does not often experience the hot temperatures faced this season, the duration of the heat and lack of rain is almost unprecedented. However, it is likely that wit...
![Lucerne Farming Note](https://www.kingshay.com/wp-content/plugins/kingshay/kingshay-image.php?src=https://www.kingshay.com/wp-content/uploads/lucerne.jpg&w=103&h=103&zc=1&a=c&q=100)
Lucerne is a good source of home grown protein, helping to shelter you from fluctuations in the price of bought in proteins. It is a nitrogen fixing crop which will impro...
![Maize Eyespot](https://www.kingshay.com/wp-content/plugins/kingshay/kingshay-image.php?src=https://www.kingshay.com/wp-content/uploads/Langley-250908-146-e1560424657747-768x1024.jpg&w=103&h=103&zc=1&a=c&q=100)
The amount of maize grown in the UK has increased significantly over the last decade, due to both the three-crop rule and an increasing use of maize in anaerobic digester...
![Multi-Species Swards (Part 1)](https://www.kingshay.com/wp-content/plugins/kingshay/kingshay-image.php?src=https://www.kingshay.com/wp-content/uploads/Herbal-Lays-Day-2-3-scaled-e1647618305141-1024x1003.jpg&w=103&h=103&zc=1&a=c&q=100)
The terms ‘herbal ley’ and multi-species swards’ are often used synonymously. They typically refer to temporary grasslands made up of a mix of grass, legume and her...
![Multi-Species Swards (Part 2)](https://www.kingshay.com/wp-content/plugins/kingshay/kingshay-image.php?src=https://www.kingshay.com/wp-content/uploads/Herbal-Lays-Day-2-1-2-1024x768.jpg&w=103&h=103&zc=1&a=c&q=100)
Historically, diverse species swards were the domain of specialist systems. However, the benefits of planting a diverse mix of species make them a valuable resource for m...
![Nitrates levels in grass](https://www.kingshay.com/wp-content/plugins/kingshay/kingshay-image.php?src=https://www.kingshay.com/wp-content/uploads/Nitrates.jpg&w=103&h=103&zc=1&a=c&q=100)
Nitrates in forage can reduce milk yields and cause fertility problems, can turn silage butyric and even cause death in stock. This Farming Note covers: How to ens...
![Red Clover Farming Note](https://www.kingshay.com/wp-content/plugins/kingshay/kingshay-image.php?src=https://www.kingshay.com/wp-content/uploads/Red-Clover1.jpg&w=103&h=103&zc=1&a=c&q=100)
With nitrogen fertiliser unlikely to get any cheaper, soya predicted to increase in price in the medium to long term and land now more readily available, it is worth cons...
![Red Clover Trial Update](https://www.kingshay.com/wp-content/plugins/kingshay/kingshay-image.php?src=https://www.kingshay.com/wp-content/uploads/Red-Clover-trial-update.jpg&w=103&h=103&zc=1&a=c&q=100)
Red clover is probably the most reliable and consistent source of home-grown protein and can be grown over a range of soil types, in both organic and conventional systems...
![Sheeting The Clamp Farming Note](https://www.kingshay.com/wp-content/plugins/kingshay/kingshay-image.php?src=https://www.kingshay.com/wp-content/uploads/sheeting-the-clamp.jpg&w=103&h=103&zc=1&a=c&q=100)
A well sealed silage clamp is critical to reduce DM losses, which can range from 5-18% in-silo and 1-10% at feed out. Sheeting technology has advanced in recent years, m...