Description
The herb – plantain is a botanical component of temporary grassland within the farm. Dominant grass and legume species in temporary grassland vegetation are: perennial ryegrass, timothy, white clover, plantain.
Reason for the innovation
Cows are tied up and the production is rather intensive on the farm. Since the farmer wanted to improve cows health, he decided to implement the idea of sowing herbs on his grasslands.
Enrichment grasslands with plantain is innovative in the country, because this plant is in general not appreciated by Polish farmers and considered sometimes as a weed, especially when its share in sward composition is high.
Farm description
Environment
- Soil types: Sandy, Peat
- Climate: Warm-summer humid continental
- Altitude: 54 m a.s.l.
- Slope: 0%
Grassland management
- All of the grasslands are exclusively mowed.
- The sward is conserved by making haylage and hay.
Structure
- Annual Work Unit 4
- Agricultural Area : 90 ha UAA
- Main forage area: 90 ha
- Arable land area: 40 ha
- Permanent grassland area: 50 ha
- Temporary grassland area: 5 ha
- Other forage area: 35 ha
- Average stocking rates:
- agricultural area 0.9 LU/ha
- main forage area 0.9 LU/ha
- grassland area 1.7 LU/ha
Animal performance
- Dairy cows: 55
- Total livestock units: 84.25 LU
- Milk production per head: 10000 (l/year)
Why it is working
The farmer regularly participates in trainings and conferences, in which he gains knowledge about grasslands and herbs. He also cooperates with other farmers, so he has an opportunity to exchange of know-how on grassland maintenance with them. The farmer has also the necessary machinery for meadow maintenance, sowing and reseeding of grass.
