Calculating areas of fodder crops for livestock

Crop area required for 100 animals for 1 month

Crop	Fresh Yield	Sheep	Cattle	Growing Time
Swede	21/tonnes per acre	1.9 acres	4.8 acres	20-26 Weeks
Kale	16/tonnes per acre	2.5 acres	4.3 acres	20-26 Weeks
Forage Rape	13/tonnes per acre	3.0 acres	6.3 acres	10-12 Weeks
Stubble Turnip	13/tonnes per acre	3.0 acres	6.3 acres	9-12 Weeks

 

Fresh yields may vary by up to one third depending on location, soil type and weather conditions.

The area requirement for sheep is for ewes or fattening lambs and assumes the fodder crop contributes the whole diet.

The area for cattle is calculated to produce 2.5kg of dry matter per day (about one quater of daily requirement).

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Date Posted: 29th March 2017