Farmer Guides

Fodder

Poplars and Willows can be pollarded to provide supplementary feed either for use in times of drought or as a regular supplement
Feed value of poplar and willow is well above maintenance requirements. Cattle eat trimmings up to 10mm diam. and sheep up to 5mm
Research trials show improved lambing percentage for stock fed on poplar and willow forage compared with stock fed on droughts pasture alone
High density planting in swampy corners draws on otherwise unused nutrients and dries land out while improving pasture and providing fodder.

Coppicing is the process of reducing trees down to a stump, allowing the stump to regenerate a mass of stems with stock managing the harvesting grazing on 2 to 3 occasions over the trees growing season
Willows are recommended, plant in a wet area, either flat or sloping but a flat area is easier to plant
High density coppice blocks (2,500 – 16,000 sph) have produced from 1.4 – 5.7 t DM/ha of edible forage over the first 3-5 years.