Farmers advised to act now to mitigate impact of dry spell

Farmers across Wales suffering from the impact of the dry weather are being urged to plan ahead to reduce further impact on feed supply and livestock.

Challenging weather conditions since last autumn mean that forage shortages going into summer are not uncommon and, with very little rainfall in recent weeks, these farms are now feeding winter silage stocks or buying in forage.

Abigail James, Technical Officer at Farming Connect, says early decisions are key to maintaining feed supplies and the welfare of stock.

“It’s not easy to predict when it will rain, but many need to start putting a plan in place as little rain is in the forecast,’’ she warns.

As a starting point, she advises assessing current feed supplies. “How much of your winter supplies can you afford to feed now and for how long? How much and what can you buy in to buffer current feed supplies?’’

One option, says Abigail, is to either feed higher concentrate levels or silage.

Stock will still need between 10 and 14 days’ worth of supplementary feed once it has rained as grass growth will need time to catch up.

If buying forage, consider dry matter value – a low dry matter means stock will need to eat more, says Abigail.

“If feeding winter stocks, count the bales or measure clamps regularly to monitor usage,’’ she recommends.

Topping fields is not advisable –  the covers might look unsightly but they have a feed value and help to reduce moisture loss from the ground.

For farms operating a rotational grazing system, don’t over-graze as this will increase moisture loss from the soil.

There are also measures farmers can take with livestock numbers to ease the pressure on feed supply, including selling surplus stock and culling ewes marked during lambing once lambs are older than eight weeks.

“If possible, lower your stocking rate – don’t carry cull dairy or suckler cows or heifers for the sake of it,’’ says Abi.

Lambs should be weighed regularly and consideration given to weaning after they are weeks old to reduce demand on the ewe and to ensure lambs have the pickings of any available grass.

“Introduce creep feed to lambs if pasture supply is inadequate – young lambs before weaning have a feed conversion efficiency of 4kg of creep to 1kg lwg, reducing to 12:1 as the lambs get older,’’ says Abi.

Use silage trailers or similar to provide shade for lame or young animals that are unable to get out of the sun.

In dairy herds, drying off low yielding cows early will lower their energy needs.

If cows are housed for half the day in well ventilated sheds, consider grazing at night to reduce heat stress.

It is important to check water pressures during the day to ensure demand across the whole farm is being met.

“Consider placing more troughs where demand is not being met,’’ says Abigail. “Look out for grass patches continuing to grow well as this could indicate a possible water leak.’’

Cynghori ffermwyr i weithredu nawr i leihau effaith y cyfnod sych

Mae ffermwyr ledled Cymru’n cael eu hannog i roi cynllun ar waith i leihau effaith y tywydd sych ar dda byw a chyflenwad porthiant.

Mae’r amodau tywydd heriol ers yr hydref diwethaf wedi golygu bod rhai’n wynebu prinder porthiant wrth nesau at yr haf, a gyda chyn lleied o law dros yr wythnosau diwethaf, mae’r ffermydd hyn bellach yn bwydo stoc silwair y gaeaf neu’n prynu porthiant i mewn.

Dywed Abigail James, Swyddog Technegol gyda Cyswllt Ffermio, bod penderfyniadau cynnar yn hanfodol er mwyn cynnal cyflenwad porthiant a lles yr anifeiliaid.

“Nid yw’n hawdd rhagweld pryd fydd hi’n glawio, ond mae angen i nifer ddechrau rhoi cynllun ar waith gan mai ychydig o law sydd yn y rhagolygon,” meddai.

Fel man cychwyn, mae’n cynghori y dylid asesu cyflenwad porthiant presennol. “Faint o’ch cyflenwad gaeaf allwch chi fforddio ei fwydo nawr ac am ba hyd?” Faint a beth allwch chi ei brynu i ategu at y cyflenwad bwyd presennol?”

Yn ôl Abi, un opsiwn yw bwydo naill ai silwair neu lefel uchel o ddwysfwyd.

Bydd y stoc yn parhau i fod angen rhwng 10 a 14 diwrnod o fwyd ategol ar ôl glawiad gan fod angen amser cyn i dwf y glaswellt gyrraedd lefel ddigonol.

Os fyddwch chi’n prynu porthiant, ystyriwch werth y deunydd sych – bydd cynnwys deunydd sych isel yn golygu bod angen i’r anifeiliaid fwyta mwy meddai Abigail.

“Os ydych chi’n bwydo stoc y gaeaf, cyfrwch y byrnau neu mesurwch y clamp yn rheolaidd i fonitro’r defnydd,” meddai.

Ni ddylid topio’r caeau – efallai bod y caeau’n edrych yn anniben, ond mae ganddyn nhw werth ychwanegol fel porthiant ac maent yn lleihau colledion lleithder o’r tir.

I ffermydd sy’n defnyddio system bori cylchdro, peidiwch â gor-bori gan y bydd hynny’n cynyddu colledion lleithder o’r pridd.

Gall ffermwyr hefyd gymryd nifer o gamau o ran niferoedd da byw er mwyn lleihau’r pwysedd ar gyflenwad porthiant, gan gynnwys gwerthu stoc dros ben a difa mamogiaid a farciwyd yn ystod ŵyna unwaith y bydd yr ŵyn dros wyth wythnos oed.

“Os yn bosib, dylech leihau eich cyfradd stocio – peidiwch â chadw gwartheg neu heffrod llaeth neu sugno i’w difa er mwyn eu cadw nhw,” meddai Abi.

Dylid pwyso ŵyn yn rheolaidd ac ystyried diddyfnu pan fyddant ychydig wythnosau oed er mwyn lleihau’r galw ar y famog a sicrhau bod yr ŵyn yn gallu dethol o’r borfa sydd ar gael.

“Ychwanegwch ddwysfwyd ar gyfer ŵyn os nad yw’r cyflenwad yn ddigonol –

Defnyddiwch drelar silwair neu rywbeth tebyg i gysgodi anifeiliaid cloff neu ifanc nad ydynt yn gallu symud o’r haul.

Mewn buches laeth, bydd sychu gwartheg llai cynhyrchiol ynghynt yn lleihau eu gofynion egni.

Os bydd gwartheg yn cael eu cadw dan do mewn siediau gydag awyriad effeithiol am hanner diwrnod, ystyriwch bori dros nos i leihau straen oherwydd gwres.

Mae’n bwysig gwirio pwysedd dŵr yn ystod y dydd i sicrhau bod galw ar draws y fferm yn cael ei fodloni.

“Ystyriwch osod mwy o gafnau os nad yw’r galw’n cael ei fodloni,” meddai Abigail. “Chwiliwch am ddarnau o laswellt sy’n parhau i dyfu’n dda, gan y gallai hynny awgrymu bod dŵr yn gollwng.”