Brassicas Benefit your farm’s Bottom Line

There are a multitude of benefits Brassicas bring to your farm

In the face of high feed costs and increasing demands for sustainable and efficient farming practices, Irish farmers are constantly seeking forage solutions that offer both agronomic and economic benefits.

Why Consider Brassica's For Your Farm?

One such solution may come from the Brassica plant family. Related to cabbage, brussels sprouts and broccoli, when grown as forage crops brassicas like Mainstar New Hybrid Brassica Leading The Way In Irish Trials and Tyfon can provide valuable fodder at any time of year.

These crops are widely recognised for their rapid growth, high nutritional value and versatility as break crops, cover crops and even drought buffers. The multitude of benefits Brassicas bring to your farm are outlined below.

1. High Yield and Rapid Growth

Brassicas are prized for their ability to establish quickly and produce large volumes of leafy biomass within 10 to 12 weeks of sowing. When sown in mid-summer (typically July to August), they can be grazed from late autumn through winter, filling a critical feed gap when grass growth slows. Yields of 4–6 tonnes of dry matter per hectare are achievable under good conditions, offering a cost-effective forage source.

2. Excellent Nutritional Profile

Brassicas are highly palatable to livestock and offers excellent nutritional value:

• Crude protein levels typically range from 16–20%.

• Digestibility is high (70–80% DMD), making Brassicas an ideal supplement to lower-quality winter forage like straw or silage.

• Provides a good source of energy and minerals, particularly when balanced with a proper transition and mineral supplementation plan.

These qualities make Brassicas like Mainstar and Tyfon especially valuable for finishing lambs, flushing ewes, or supplementing dairy and beef cattle diets in the shoulders of the grazing season.

3. Flexibility in Livestock Systems

Brassicas can be used in a wide range of livestock systems:

• Sheep grazing: Particularly beneficial for finishing lambs pre-slaughter with fast live weight gains.

• Cattle grazing: Ideal as part of a rotational grazing system for dry cows or young stock.

• Dairy: Can be used to reduce reliance on purchased concentrates or silage in late autumn.

Strip grazing with back fencing helps optimize usage, prevent spoilage, and manage soil compaction.

4. Soil Health and Crop Rotation Benefits

From a cropping perspective, Brassicas contribute positively to soil health:

• Act as a break crop in tillage systems, disrupting pest and disease cycles.

• Enhance soil structure and organic matter through its deep taproots, which improve aeration and drainage.

• Helps scavenge nutrients, particularly nitrogen, reducing leaching losses and improving the efficiency of nutrient use.

Farmers often integrate Brassica mixtures into rotation to maximize soil and animal health benefits.

5. Cost-Effectiveness and Risk Reduction

Brassicas are relatively cheap to establish and manage:

• Low seed cost compared to traditional forages.

• Minimal input requirements (typically a light application of nitrogen and phosphorus).

• Can be sown after winter cereals or reseeded grassland, maximizing land use and minimizing feed shortages.

This makes it particularly attractive for farms seeking low-cost winter grazing options or a buffer against unpredictable

6. Environmental and Climate Resilience

With increasing focus on climate-smart agriculture, Brassicas offer environmental benefits:

• Reduces the need for imported feedstuffs, cutting the farm’s carbon footprint.

• Can reduce methane emissions per kilogram of live weight gain due to high digestibility.

• Can be used in catch crops or green cover schemes, aligning with Ireland’s environmental and CAP compliance goals.

Summary

Brassicas are a high-performing, adaptable forage option that fits well into both livestock and mixed farming systems in Ireland. Their combination of high yield, nutritional value, soil benefits, and cost-effectiveness makes them a valuable asset for farmers looking to improve feed self-sufficiency, support animal performance, and enhance farm resilience.

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