Slurry tanks filling up: I have been talking to several farmers who have slatted tanks coming close to full with slurry. With ground conditions still saturated, the chances of getting out with the vacuum tanker in the coming weeks are small.

If tanks are almost full, look at moving slurry from one tank to another within the yard or between yards, if possible.

Another alternative is to export slurry, but that will rely on the ability of the receiving farmer to store it and to be able to import it based on their fertiliser plan.

Where slurry is being exported, ensure that Record 3 forms are filled up for the importing and exporting farmer. A copy of these records needs to be submitted to the Department of Agriculture prior to the year end.

Where slurry is being applied, it is crucial that the slurry is watery and not too thick.

Try and wait for a dry period to spread and avoid spreading on waterlogged land.

The bigger issue on most farms is grass covers. Where possible, try to apply the slurry to fields with a grass cover of no more than 6-7cm (650-900kg Dm/ha), as spreading on heavier covers than this will affect grass utilisation.

Supplementing calved cows: In a normal year, spring-calved cows with an adequate body condition score (BCS) at calving will be turned out to grass within four weeks of calving and will require no supplementation.

Where turnout is going to be delayed due to the ground and weather conditions, it is vital that you keep a close eye on cow BCS. Usually a BCS drop of 0.5 units, from 2.5 to 2.0 (25-35kg liveweight), from calving to breeding is permissible for a mature suckler cow, but where the BCS drops by more than this in this period, fertility can be affected during the breeding season.

The cows running the greatest risk of this are early-calved cows and first-calved heifers. Where silage quality is poor or where cows are losing condition rapidly after calving, supplementation may be required if turnout is delayed.

Supplement thin cows or first calvers that are fed average-quality silage with 1-2kg of a high-energy ration until turnout or cows are back in calf.

Calving pens: With farmers in the thick of calving, it is essential to ensure that calving pens are cleaned out between calvings. Ensure that cows are moved into calving pens well in advance of calving to allow them settle. There should be enough bedding in the pen to ensure the calf and cow have a clean and dry bed.

If the bedding is too wet to kneel in the pen, then you are not using enough straw. In terms of the number of pens required, there should be a calving pen for every 15-20 cows in a tight spring-calving herd.