« They say that having fodder stocks is expensive. But the real cost is not having it when you need it.estimates Denis Battaglia, breeder in Meurthe-et-Moselle. Fodder stocks are the breeder's best investment, because without fodder, there will be no milk, therefore no income. » With his three partners, Denis raises 120 cows with 10,000 liters of milk fed all year round on a complete ration. There is no question of running out of fodder. “ We are in an area that dries very quickly. In two hot days, we can lose a significant part of the corn yield », he shares.
“For ten years, I have noticed that yields are increasingly variable. We can't navigate by sight. » Having stocks brings peace of mind. “I know that we will be able to feed the livestock even in the event of unfavorable weather conditions and that we will not have to suffer from the markets by needing to buy”continues the breeder.
Seize every opportunity
The constitution of the equivalent of more than one year of stock in advance was realized gradually. “ A few years ago we raised too many heiferstraces the breeder. Reducing our renewal rate and having fewer mouths to feed made it possible to start building up stocks of hay, grass silage and corn, but also cereals. And, in good forage years, we kept the forage rather than trying to sell surpluss. »
Over the years, the partners have built new silos. Today they have a silage storage capacity of 5,000 m3. « Even if it means storing, it must be done in good conditions to ensure that the quality of conservation is maintained. », argues Denis, very vigilant about the settling and closing of silos.
Last summer, Gaec distributed corn silage made in 2021! Despite a duration of conservation this long, breeders do not observe any deterioration in the quality of the fodder. “ Over time, corn gains digestibility », appreciates the breeder. Each time a silo is opened, an analysis is carried out to know precisely the value of what is distributed. Breeders ensure a transition of two to three weeks.
Savings difficult to assess
Stocks also contribute to the stability of production. “Even with his improvement, consider Denis Battaglia. As we are not chasing quantities, we have the comfort of being able to choose the best plots of corn for silage. The others will be valued in grains. » In addition, by mixing the silages according to their food valuethe Gaec erases the “years” effects, which contributes to ration stability. “Last year, we had small corn yields, but the quality was there with lots of grains. We supplemented with fodder stored in previous years. This made for a great ration. »
In terms of cost« it's not easy to quantify what we save by not having to buy in bad years, when prices are highersays the breeder. Financial efforts are mainly made at the beginning to build up stocks. But, beyond the accounting aspects, serenity is priceless. »
Caution
There is no particular risk in building long-term stocks if the silo has indeed been built according to the rules of the art, in terms of compaction, sealing, etc. Apart from poor conservation, the fodder will be well valued; in any case, better than fodder which has not been sufficiently fermented.
“The cost of inventory is a false problem”
For Jérôme Larcelet, Seenorest nutrition consultant, generating stocks in advance is a winning strategy, with an optimum of up to six months of stock.
What quantity of stocks should you aim for?
Jérôme Larcelet – “It is first of all for corn silage that we must provide stocks, because it is the basis of many rations and it is a crop which can be subject to climatic hazards. The ideal is to have three to four months of corn silage stocks in advance. This allows you to wait before opening your new silos until the new silage has fermented well and the digestibility of the starch is good. In the event of a lower yield, the opening could be brought forward but, at least, this stock will help to compensate for the smaller harvest. For security reasons, we can stock up to six months.
For grass, with two harvest periods, in spring and fall, there is less risk of shortage. More than quantity, it is quality that can be lacking. So it can also be useful to store interesting fodder. »
What advice should you give to a breeder who is often short on fodder resources?
JL – “Before building up stocks, the first step is to carry out a fodder balance to take stock of its numbers and fodder resources, then analyze consistency. Is it profitable to fatten bull calves if I have to regularly buy fodder? Likewise with unproductive animals like heifers, there are ways to reduce their number by lowering theage at first calvingby reducing the renewal rate. »
Economically, are advance stocks a good strategy?
JL – “The cost is a false problem. Certainly, having substantial forage stocks is money that is lying dormant, but the effort comes especially at the start of stock building. Afterwards, it's a rotation. Duty buy fodder will always cost more than producing them. Planting two or three additional hectares of corn and putting some aside for a good year rather than selling it is a small effort compared to the cost of purchases in a bad year. »
Once stocks are built up, how to manage them?
JL – “First of all, they must be kept in good conditions. Which often requires rebuild silos. Instead, having small additional silos allows you to build up stocks without having a silo bottom on which you will put the new harvest. We must also manage the turnover of stocks so as not to keep them for too long and adapt the area to be sown according to what will remain. »
