Native Grain a Perfect Feed in Dry, Warm Conditions

With the warm and dry conditions expected to last well into this week, IFA Grain Chair John Murphy has called on the wider livestock sector to use native cereals as a feed solution in situations where grass availability is restricted.

“Unfortunately, a quantity of native grain remains in store from last harvest at both farm and merchant level in various parts of the country. Additionally, harvest of new crop winter barley is also well underway countrywide and combining of winter oats has also started in the south of the country. There is a plentiful supply of native grain available in the country,” John Murphy said.

Where increasing amounts of concentrate feed are required, the IFA Grain Committee would ask that livestock farmers chose a ration or nut with a high inclusion rate of native Irish cereals.

“High fibre grains such as Irish oats are an ideal option for buffer feeding outside and are a much more sustainable option than imported non-grain feed ingredients such as soya hulls and palm kernel expeller,” he said.

“While warm, dry weather makes harvesting easier, it doesn’t hide the fact that tillage margins are extremely low on owned land and negative on rented land. However, the wider agricultural sector shouldn’t underestimate the impact that choosing Irish grain has on the morale and viability of our tillage sector at this time,” he concluded.