09/13/11
Barkant turnip - achieving high production
Barkant turnips provide a useful summer production boost and are a good safety net if conditions turn dry, says Allan, a 50-50 sharemilker.
"If we have a good growing season, the Barkant turnips enable us to lock up some grass paddocks for supplement and make baleage. It also comes in handy for extending out the pasture rotation over summer. It is also a high quality feed." Milking 530 cows, the property achieves production of more than 400kgMS/cow.
After milking, cows spend three to four hours on the turnips, at 5-6kg of turnips/cow/day, before returning to a grass paddock. Barkant yields well at 12t/ha. "Virtually all the farms around here use Barkant turnips.
"It also fits in well with the regrassing programme.
