A WINTER forage shortfall has been predicted, following early silage tests.

First grass sample results from around the country - excluding foot and mouth restricted areas - have revealed low yields and low dry matters, but good sugar and nitrogen content.

The survey has been carried out by Frank Wright, a BASF company and leading forage testing company.

Although showing a wide variation, the pre-cut samples up to Friday, May 25, gave results which averaged dry matter 16pc, ME 11.2MJ/kg, crude protein 18.3pc, sugar 3.3pc and DCP 143.

Dr John Allen, company technical director, said it was probably the widest representative sample so far this season. "It suggests the first cut will be light and wet, although what is going into the clamp should ferment well," he said.

But he warned that the combination of the low first cut yield and low silage stocks from last winter heralded a potential silage shortfall for next winter, unless there was a "thumping good" second crop.