Winter Feeding & Silage Management Tips for Cattle Farmers

Winter feeding is one of the biggest costs for UK cattle farmers. Rising input prices make it more important than ever to maximise silage quality and efficiency while keeping youngstock healthy with the right calf feeding practices. Getting nutrition right, not only saves money, but also drives herd performance, milk yields, and weight gain.

Understanding Silage – The Foundation of Winter Feeding

Silage is the cornerstone of winter nutrition, providing energy and protein for both beef and dairy herds.

• What is silage? A type of preserved forage made by fermenting grass, maize, or other crops.
• When is silage season UK? First cuts are usually taken in late May to early June, with second cuts through the summer.
• Silage farming: Producing enough silage is critical to cover the entire housing period.

How many days before silage can be fed?
Freshly cut silage should be allowed to ferment for at least 6 weeks before feeding, to ensure proper preservation and reduce the risk of digestive upsets.

Silage Quality & Testing

The importance of silage to livestock cannot be overstated. High-quality forage supports milk production, growth rates, and overall herd health.

What makes good quality silage?

• Dry matter: 28–35% is ideal.
• Energy (ME): Above 10.5 MJ/kg DM for dairy cows.
• Protein: Balanced for the class of stock.
• Smell & colour: Sweet, clean aroma and leafy appearance indicate healthy silage.

Regular testing ensures you can plan accurate rations. Farmers often ask: is silage good for cattle? The answer is yes — provided it’s good quality silage with no mould or spoilage.

Managing Winter Feed Costs

Winter feed is often the single biggest cost on cattle farms. Rising prices for concentrates and fertiliser mean every tonne of silage counts.

With Herdwatch, farmers can:

• Record winter feed costs in real time.
• Use a feeding cost calculator to budget rations.
• Monitor waste and make adjustments quickly.

This data-driven approach can save thousands over a winter season.

Calf Feeding Best Practices

For autumn- and winter-born calves, nutrition is especially important. Proper calf feeding ensures healthy growth and strong weaning weights.

Key calf feeding tips:

• Feed 2–3 times daily in the first weeks, adjusting volume as calves grow.
• Use tools like a calf feeding bucket with teat, calf bucket feeder, or multi calf milk feeder to simplify routines.
• Calf milk feeding buckets with multiple teats are useful for larger groups.
• Bucket feeding a calf requires correct hygiene – wash feeders and calf feeding teats daily.

Monitoring calf weights and growth in Herdwatch helps ensure your feeding calf strategy supports performance targets.

FAQs about Silage & Calf Feeding