Good basic ration is no coincidence. It is the result of site conditions, good management and the best harvesting technology. The foundation for this is laid by the plant crop.
In many places, permanent grassland provides the basis for successful cattle feeding. Whole crop production with clover-grass mixtures and alfalfa is also becoming increasingly important due to rising protein feed prices and prolonged dry periods.
The botanical composition of the grassland plants determines both the performance and quality potential of the fields to be harvested. Permanent pasture, unlike whole crop forage, is generally not subject to cultivation. In order to achieve decent yields over the long term, a certain amount of grassland management is required. This is because yield-driven farming with several cuts per year deprives the plants of the opportunity to reproduce generatively by seeds. In the long run, there is a growing risk that less nutritious grasses and herbs will take over. The required crop plants can be stocked up by reseeding on a regular basis. In addition, applying the just the necessary quantities of fertiliser will provide the plants with the nutrients they need.
Only consistent grassland care can achieve a harmonious plant crop with a dense sward. It is very important that the sward is conserved during harvesting. Well-dried soil is the first prerequisite for this. Harvesting equipment that has been properly set up, and, most importantly, offers good ground tracking, will also help you prevent damage to the sward and avoid gaps in the plants, that would otherwise lead to weed infestation and a loss of yield.
In addition to using harvesting equipment properly, it is just as important to choose the right time for harvesting in order to get the maximum quantity and quality from each cut.