Although nutritionally Sodium does not offer much to the plant, applying sodium is the equivalent to putting salt on your chips, it improves palatability. A critical factor of ruminant nutrition is ensuring the animal is eating sufficient to support production, known as the dry matter intake (DMI). Encouraging DMI enhances digestion of nutrients which will support the animal’s maintenance and production requirements allowing for sustained performance. Whilst applying all other nutrients will support the growth of the plant and defoliating at the correct time will capture maximum nutritional quality, applying sodium to grassland will encourage the animal to eat greater amounts of it. Calcium is also an essential element to consider as part of a nutrition program as it supports the re-growth of grass after defoliation from grazing and/or cutting. As described previosuly, to gain maximum nutritional quality from grass it is recommended to regularly defoliate the plant with appropriate periods of recovery. Calcium assists re-growth as it offers structural support and strength to the developing cell walls and membranes. A strong plant will therefore recover quicker allowing for another opportunity to defoliate. Please contact one of our FACTS qualified advisors for any further advise or information. Call 01243 784171.
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