Grassland reseeding with precision.
Grassland reseeding is an important practice for farmers to improve the quality of their basic feed while increasing operational efficiency. Reseeding grassland produces a denser sod. As a result, the raw ash content can be reduced and the protein content of the feed can be increased.
Feed contamination and thus the crude ash content are reduced because dense sod makes it possible to work shallower when recovering feed. As a result, much less soil and dust are introduced into the mowed material. Nevertheless, swath losses remain minimal when sod is thick. The mowed material should only be placed on the grass stubble and should not come into contact with the ground. This minimizes feed contamination even before further work steps, which significantly reduces misfermentation in the silo and significantly increases the palatability of the feed for dairy cattle.
The protein content is increased by specifically establishing protein-producing plant species. As a result, the net energy content of staple feed rises sharply. In addition, overseeding makes it possible to adapt to changing environmental conditions - particularly in dry years - which increases the yield security of grassland.
Through precise, site-specific grassland reseeding, the two core objectives of grassland reseeding can be achieved safely and much more efficiently. Seed consumption and thus costs per hectare are significantly reduced - with better results. Plant sensors measure biomass growth and identify gaps. Here, it makes sense to plant more seeds in order to improve the energy efficiency of basic feed. If the sod is thick anyway, there is no need for grassland reseeding. These conditions often change within a few meters.
Consistently dense sod is important because it prevents weeds from growing and the natural competitive pressure of crops on weeds is high.
The sensors detect areas of dense sod and adjust the application of seeds accordingly. As a result, expensive seeds are only used where they can actually be established in incomplete stocks. Farmers can successfully implement protein-rich plants to energetically upgrade their staple feed.
Ultimately, the energy upgrade of staple feed through sensor-based grassland reseeding leads to cost savings for livestock farms, as less concentrated feed has to be purchased. In particular, site-specific grassland reseeding is a sustainable practice that improves feed quality, ensures yields and at the same time reduces operating costs.
