We managed to get away for a few days last week. A holiday is a vital part of any family’s life, including farmers. Maybe I should say especially for farmers. It is all too easy to get bogged down with the 24/7 lifestyle.

We headed for the northwest counties of Mayo and Sligo. The wet summer I had been hearing about in the west had kept the landscape looking lush and green. I resisted the temptation to seek out a few contacts for farm visits, though that didn’t stop me looking over fences. You can never totally switch off the curiosity.

I should have done a before and after weighing to calculate my average daily gain. The food, especially the Mayo lamb, was nearly as good as in west Cork.

Weather woes

Meanwhile, the abundance of grass continued here at home although it is slowing. Recovery of fresh grazed paddocks is very rapid now following last week’s rain. The dry conditions prior to that have left a gap where there are too many 1,000kg covers and not enough 1,800kg covers.

The aim at this time of year is to extend the rotation to 30 days so as to build up a reserve for September. The options are to bring in extra feed or cut down the stocking rate. I have been reducing the stocking rate by gradually drying off the autumn-calvers for their 60- to 70-day rest and recuperation. I made use of them to clean up a few paddocks that probably should have been topped in the previous rotation, supplemented with wheaten straw in a round feeder.

I usually put the dry cows on a low-energy silage and straw diet with pre-calver minerals for three weeks before due date. The decision was taken to relieve the pressure by starting 10 days earlier than planned and so the first bunch was housed. The later calvers are being taken to the calf paddocks on the outside block 5.5 miles away as the calves now have access to silage after-grass.

Current stocking rate is still high at 3.7 LU/ha, with the higher percentage of spring-calvers this year.

It's not just the school holidays that are over

I had expected to be feeding ration two weeks ago and it is a real bonus to be grass only to the milkers for August. The wheat I am buying for crimping is due to be cut this week so I hope the unused soya hulls will keep me going till it is ready for feeding. Seems it’s not just the school holidays are over.

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