Economics of bale grazing

Originating in North America, bale grazing is a grass and hay outwintering system for cattle that's becoming increasingly popular among UK farmers as a method of reducing costs in suckler-beef systems.

This report draws together management and financial information from seven farms across the UK that were practising bale grazing.

It highlights where cost savings can be made before applying a cost-benefit analysis to their own system.

As always when looking outwards at other farms, the report shows what is possible, rather than what is probable.

The farms are part of the wider Pasture for Life – Innovative Farmers project, which is looking to quantify the impacts of bale grazing on forage quality, quantity and soil health post-bale grazing.