COWBRIDGE farmer and Glamorgan Grassland Society secretary Chris Edwards is winner of the 2017/18 FWGS All-Wales Clamp Silage competition.

The judging panel agreed that Pwllywrach Farm as a whole package, is well managed within a very tidy system. While the quality of the silage (tested by Agri-Lloyd) is important, the judges also visit each farm to assess clamp management and feeding practices among other efficiency markers.

This year’s judging panel consisted of technical judge John Evans; industry sponsor Dr Huw McConochie; and the 2016/17 Clamp Silage competition winner William Lawrence from Pembrokeshire.

All judges were totally satisfied that the winning combination demonstrated how to make the best and most appropriate use of the fodder available; and the growth rates and weight gains achieved by feeding only 3kg of barley per day with excellent combination of grass silage, whole crop and lucerne silages were very impressive.

Pwllywrach Farm has the perfect potion for feeding the 140 sucklers, 350 growing and finishing cattle and the 1800 ewe flock. The farm is situated in the Vale of Glamorgan, sitting 80m above sea level on a south-westerly aspect.

The foundation of the winter ration analysed at DM 34.9 per cent, D-value 72.7 per cent, ME 11.6 MJ/kg and CP 12.1 per cent showing high intake levels and a very well made crop.

A total of 150 acres was taken for first cut on May 14 – the crop was wilted for 24 hours and the ensiling process completed in a day. There was a second cut of 75 acres and a third cut of 50 acres taken making up a total 1650t. The additional extras grown on the farm are 100 tonnes of hay and the protein crops of 75t lucerne and 75t red clover silages and wheat straw. These ingredients are mixed in a 20 cubic metre tub mixer to provide the correct diet for each enterprise.

The runner-up to this year’s very close run competition was dairy farmer Richard Morris, Bowett Farm, Hundleton (Cleddau Grassland Society). Bowlett Farm is a 500 acre farm with 430 dairy cows, 4 bulls, and 250 young stock. The foundation of the winter ration analysed at DM 34.5 per cent, D-value 75.5 per cent, ME 12.1 MJ/kg and CP 17.1 per cent.

In third place was Ioan Jones, Rhydonnen, Llanychan, Ruthin (Clwyd Grassland Society). Rhydonnen is a 222 acre dairy and sheep farm at 50m asl. The dietary component analysis were: DM 30.4 per cent, D-value 78.1 per cent, ME 12.5 MJ/kg and CP 17.1 per cent.

The other two successful finalists were Geraint Powell, Glanmiheli, Kerry, Newtown (Upper Severn Grassland Society) and David Phillips, Fferm Trebared, Gwbert Road, Cardigan (Cardigan Grassland Society).