How Calcifert Lime boosts grass yield for livestock farming
For livestock farmers, grass isn’t just a crop – it’s the foundation of productivity and profitability. Whether you’re raising beef cattle, dairy herds, or sheep, the quality and quantity of your pasture directly influence animal health, daily weight gain, milk yields, and feed costs. However, many farmers overlook a crucial factor in pasture management: soil pH. Acidic soils can significantly limit grass growth, nutrient uptake, and sward resilience. That’s where Calcifert Lime comes in.
Calcifert Lime is a finely ground, granulated calcium carbonate product designed to correct soil acidity quickly and efficiently. Its unique formulation ensures it acts faster than traditional agricultural lime and is easy to apply using standard fertiliser spreaders. When applied correctly, it supports healthy, high-yielding grassland by improving nutrient availability and encouraging stronger root systems. This blog explores how Calcifert Lime works, why soil pH matters, and how it helps livestock farming.
Understanding the impact of soil pH
Soil pH plays a central role in determining the availability of nutrients in the soil. In the UK and Ireland, many grasslands have become progressively more acidic over time, due to rainfall, fertiliser use, slurry application, and general wear from grazing animals. When soil becomes too acidic, generally falling below a pH of 6.0, key nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium become less available to the plant. This not only restricts grass growth, but also reduces the effectiveness of applied fertilisers, increasing costs and lowering returns.
Acidic soils are also more prone to weed and moss infestation, have weaker root structures, and are less resilient to stress from drought or heavy grazing. Addressing low pH through liming is one of the most cost-effective steps farmers can take to restore soil health and unlock the full potential of their pasture.
Why choose Calcifert Lime?
Calcifert Lime is formulated to make liming more efficient and practical. Produced as a fast-acting granulated lime, it offers several advantages over traditional bulk or ground lime. It begins working soon after application, breaking down rapidly to neutralise soil acidity. The product is easy to handle and spread, dust-free, and suitable for use with most fertiliser spreading equipment, making it accessible for farmers without specialist kit.
Thanks to its high neutralising value (NV), Calcifert Lime corrects pH levels quickly and consistently. This improves nutrient availability, leading to healthier, more vigorous grass that is better able to compete with weeds and recover from grazing.
How Calcifert Lime improves grass yield
One of the immediate effects of using Calcifert Lime is the improvement in nutrient uptake. As soil pH increases into the optimal range of 6.0 to 6.5, the grass can access nutrients already present in the soil or applied through fertilisers and manures. This means that farmers get a better return from every application of nitrogen, phosphate, and potash. The grass responds more quickly to nutrient inputs, leading to faster growth and higher dry matter yields.
Stronger, deeper root systems are another key benefit. As the pH level improves, root development is no longer restricted, allowing plants to make better use of soil moisture and nutrients. This is particularly valuable in dry spells or on free-draining soils, where grass growth might otherwise suffer. With a healthier root network, the grass also becomes more resilient to stress from grazing or machinery and better able to recover after being cut for silage or hay.
In addition to boosting productivity, improving soil pH with Calcifert Lime encourages a thicker, more vigorous sward that outcompetes and suppresses invasive weeds naturally. Farmers often report reduced levels of moss and fewer weed problems after liming, thanks to the increased competitiveness of the grass. A well-balanced sward also supports livestock farming performance, providing more consistent and digestible feed throughout the grazing season.
Application timing and best practice
To get the most from Calcifert Lime, farmers should start by testing their soil pH. This helps determine whether a maintenance dressing or a corrective application is required. In general, moderately acidic soils may benefit from 250–500 kg/ha, while more acidic fields may need up to 1,000 kg/ha to bring pH back to target levels. Because the product is granulated and easy to handle, it can be applied in spring or autumn, whenever ground conditions allow and ideally ahead of a growth period or reseeding.
One of the major advantages of Calcifert Lime is its compatibility with standard fertiliser spreading equipment. This makes it possible to integrate liming into the wider nutrient management plan without needing specialist contractors or equipment.
The benefits for livestock farming
By improving grass yield and quality, Calcifert Lime can significantly reduce the need for purchased feed or concentrate rations. It supports better forage quality, higher daily liveweight gains in finishing cattle, and improved milk yields in dairy herds. Grazing periods can be extended, and pastures recover more quickly between rotations, supporting a more flexible and resilient grazing system.
On silage ground, improved pH levels lead to higher dry matter yields and better preservation quality, ensuring that valuable winter forage is both abundant and nutritious. For sheep farmers, lime-treated grassland tends to show improved lamb growth rates and condition, thanks to the higher nutritional value of the sward.
At LKAB Minerals, we supply Calcifert Lime as part of a wider range of soil improvement products tailored for UK and Irish farming systems. Backed by technical support and agronomic expertise, Calcifert Lime is used by livestock farmers across the country to improve pasture resilience and performance. Whether you manage upland grazing, silage leys, or rotational paddocks, our team can help you get the most from your soils.
With reliable delivery options, high-quality granules, and a proven track record, Calcifert Lime is the professional choice for farmers looking to boost grass yields and improve livestock farming efficiency from the ground up. Interested in improving pasture performance? Visit our Calcifert Lime product page or get in touch with our team for tailored advice, soil testing recommendations, and product availability near you. You can also follow us on LinkedIn to stay updated on our latest insights and product developments.
