In this week's management notes, we offer advice on calculating how much fodder you have saved, castrating male cattle, controlling weeds in reseeded pasture and late-season fertiliser use
Silage: Second-cut silage is under way in certain areas of the country, while in some areas first-cut silage is not long finished. To work out if you will have enough fodder in store, you should complete a fodder budget. Being able to identify a silage deficit now gives you time to take action by making a late cut of bales or buying in some silage. The Irish Farmers Journal has a fodder app online that will calculate how much forage you have in store, the fodder requirements for different types of cattle and what winter feed options are available to make up any deficit. This service is free and available at www.farmersjournal.ie/toolbox/fodder
Castrating males: Some farmers will be considering castrating spring-born male calves for ease of handling and to suit particular markets. Remember that it is illegal to castrate a calf over the age of six months without using an anaesthetic. It is also recommended that male calves should be castrated using a device such as the burdizzo clamp between two to six months of age. Using this method to castrate older calves can be less effective and is stressful on calves. Only an experienced operator should use this device as incorrect use can lead to blood vessels haemorrhaging shortly after use. Before using, ensure that the jaws of the clamp will close evenly to ensure the chord is correctly crushed. For best use, applying the device at two different points on each chord is recommended. For older animals, castration using surgical removal of testicles is advised and should be carried out by your vet.
Reseed management: Where reseeding was carried out in the past month, it will be ready for a post-emergence spray to control weeds. The best time to get an effective weed kill is around four to eight weeks after reseeding. Ground conditions have improved, which will help you to get on to land that was ploughed to facilitate spraying. Leaving weeds unchecked in the new sward will slow down the establishment of new grass plants and reduce tillering of the sward. Before spraying, walk the reseed and determine what weeds are present and then choose a product to suit that will give the most effective kill. Pick a clover-safe spray if you want to establish a clover-rich sward.
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Nitrogen: Extending the grazing season into the autumn should now be the main focus of grassland management. Remember that the closing date for spreading chemical nitrogen is 15 September and only three weeks away. Soil temperatures are good so you should be planning to get grazing ground dressed with nitrogen within the next fortnight. The earlier you apply the nitrogen, the higher the growth response as day length decreases and temperatures normally start to tail off in September. In late August, 1kg of N can typically grow 40kg to 50kg DM/ha/day which can drop to 25kg to 30kg DM/ha/day by mid-September. An early application of nitrogen will increase grass supplies for autumn grazing and delay housing if ground conditions allow.
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Title: Beef cattle management notes
In this week's management notes, we offer advice on calculating how much fodder you have saved, castrating male cattle, controlling weeds in reseeded pasture and late-season fertiliser use
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Silage: Second-cut silage is under way in certain areas of the country, while in some areas first-cut silage is not long finished. To work out if you will have enough fodder in store, you should complete a fodder budget. Being able to identify a silage deficit now gives you time to take action by making a late cut of bales or buying in some silage. The Irish Farmers Journal has a fodder app online that will calculate how much forage you have in store, the fodder requirements for different types of cattle and what winter feed options are available to make up any deficit. This service is free and available at www.farmersjournal.ie/toolbox/fodder
Castrating males: Some farmers will be considering castrating spring-born male calves for ease of handling and to suit particular markets. Remember that it is illegal to castrate a calf over the age of six months without using an anaesthetic. It is also recommended that male calves should be castrated using a device such as the burdizzo clamp between two to six months of age. Using this method to castrate older calves can be less effective and is stressful on calves. Only an experienced operator should use this device as incorrect use can lead to blood vessels haemorrhaging shortly after use. Before using, ensure that the jaws of the clamp will close evenly to ensure the chord is correctly crushed. For best use, applying the device at two different points on each chord is recommended. For older animals, castration using surgical removal of testicles is advised and should be carried out by your vet.
Reseed management: Where reseeding was carried out in the past month, it will be ready for a post-emergence spray to control weeds. The best time to get an effective weed kill is around four to eight weeks after reseeding. Ground conditions have improved, which will help you to get on to land that was ploughed to facilitate spraying. Leaving weeds unchecked in the new sward will slow down the establishment of new grass plants and reduce tillering of the sward. Before spraying, walk the reseed and determine what weeds are present and then choose a product to suit that will give the most effective kill. Pick a clover-safe spray if you want to establish a clover-rich sward.
Nitrogen: Extending the grazing season into the autumn should now be the main focus of grassland management. Remember that the closing date for spreading chemical nitrogen is 15 September and only three weeks away. Soil temperatures are good so you should be planning to get grazing ground dressed with nitrogen within the next fortnight. The earlier you apply the nitrogen, the higher the growth response as day length decreases and temperatures normally start to tail off in September. In late August, 1kg of N can typically grow 40kg to 50kg DM/ha/day which can drop to 25kg to 30kg DM/ha/day by mid-September. An early application of nitrogen will increase grass supplies for autumn grazing and delay housing if ground conditions allow.
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