The Cumbria Grassland Society held its annual silage competition, with six finalists being selected from more than 30 entries.
The final was judged by Malcolm Fell, of Chapel House Farm, Docker Lane, Carnforth, who said the standard of all the finalists was extremely high and that he had had a hard task in deciding a winner.
John Mann, of Crooklands Farm, Bromfield, Wigton, was crowned the winner, with Mr Fell saying: “The attention to detail was outstanding, with the uniformity of the face being a key differentiator – it was almost like John had used a spirit level!”
John explained that he had not used any additive on this silage and operated a four-cut system, with the first in mid-May and the last in September. He used 4,000 gallons of slurry and 70 units of nitrogen per acre for the first cut and around 2,000 gallons and 35 units for subsequent ones.
When clamping he uses a SilaPactor to compact the silage, which he is confident has improved its consolidation.
His 360 Holstein milking cattle were producing about 10,500 litres, high in solids, and are bedded on green bedding which is very tidy and clean.
He added that he had been entering the competition for about 15 years and had come second and third on previous occasions, so it was pleasing to take first place this year. Joint second were Rick Fisher, of Woodhouse Farm, Penrith, and Chris Wilson, of Skirwith Hall Farm.
Carrs Billington assisted in sample analysis and society chairman, Colin Dent, Kirkby Thore, thanked Ian Powley and his team at Carrs and all those who had entered for making this year’s competition so successful.
The sample analysis figures were: Crooklands Farm — DM 25.5 per cent, protein 15.3 per cent, ME mj/kg 11.3, pH 3.4; Woodhouse — DM 28 per cent, protein 13.9 per cent, ME 11.3; pH 3.4; Skirwith Hall — DM 26.6 per cent, protein 15.3 per cent, ME 11.3, pH 3.4.
