Local farmers feature in Awards
The two Silage competitions are run in conjunction with RWAS and Sponsored by BPI Silotite and Wynnstay.
The Big Bale competition sponsored by BPI Agriculture (Silotite), gave judges - Dr Dave Davies, (Silage Solutions); Stuart Anthony (BPI Agri); and Alan Davies, Llys Farm, Denbigh (2019 competition winner), a very difficult task to pull apart the winners, since they felt that three were pushing more for production from forage based systems.
These three were Keith Williams Haverhill Farm Spittal; Marc Jones, Trefnant Hall, Welshpool and Eurig Jenkins Pentrefelin, Talsarn. They were all running farming systems where forage be that freshly consumed or preserved provided the majority if not all of the feed.
After much deliberation the winner was chosen as Keith Williams, who’s silage analysis was superior to all other finalists with 16.9 % Crude protein and a metabolisable energy content of 11 MJ/kg DM.
The judges failed to separate second and third places and so awarded Marc and Eurig Jenkins, Pentrefelin as joint runners up.
The All Wales Clamp Silage competition, sponsored by Wynnstay, also goes to Pembrokeshire. Lead Judge, John Evans expressed his satisfaction on reporting what “a privilege it was to judge this year's competition”.
However, the winner for 2020 is Michael Williams, Fagwrfran East, Puncheston; whilst David Lee, Winnington Green, Middletown a very close runner-up.
Fagwrfran East is a 310 acre beef, dairy and sheep farm. The farm sits 85% South facing at 750ft asl on free draining acid loamy soil type. They milk 145 cows producing 11,300l/cow (4.1% Butterfat 3.5% Protein); as well as sheep and over 200 young beef and dairy stock.
135 acres were taken for first cut, 110 as second and 100 acres of third cut - Total tonnage ensiled 1995t. Analysis showed an ME of 12.7 and CP of 13.5%.
Runner up entrant was local farmer, David. The family have a 450 acres dairy and beef farm with 420 Dairy cows as well as 90 followers annually and 80 beef calves. Tack ewes are taken for wintering. Yields are 5300l/cow (4.74% Butterfat 3.82% Protein).
Three cuts harvested last year (late April, June and July) with 128 acres taken for first cut, 136 for second cut and 111 acres for third cut. Total tonnage ensiled 1665t. Analysis also showed excellent silage with ME of 12.0 and CP of 16.2%
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