Our measuring farms have grown 51kg DM/ha/day in the last week, on average. The story is very similar to last week in that free-draining farms are seeing a drop-off in growth with the current dryness, while wet farms are kicking on – utilising big volumes of grass relative to what they’re used to.

Indeed, growth is on the floor on some of our driest farms, where the lack of moisture is forcing actions like silage feeding and, in some cases, early housing of fattening cattle.

There are pockets of rain forecast for next week that should offer some respite on these excessively dry farms, though at this point the volumes forecast are modest. Most of the country should feel some moisture on Saturday night.

Push cattle to graze out fields tightly at present – we may be crying out for weather like this in a couple of weeks’ time. If your cattle have been grazing tight up to now, there should be quality material right to the base of the sward – don’t be afraid to get cattle to eat it. Aim for a 3.5cm to 4cm residual post-grazing. There should be 12 to 14 days of grazing on drystock farms at this point, though I would be considering postponing any surplus paddock-removal plans on dry farms where grass is tight, until a clearer rain forecast develops.

It is vital that these farms have accurate average growth and farm cover figures – only then can farmers be sure when making decisions.

Twelve to 14 days of grass might seem tight to an inexperienced grassland manager, but in reality a supply like this at this point in the year will mean that what is going into your animals is of the utmost quality, and this will be reflected in animal performance.

Maurice Hearne

Co Waterford

System: suckler to bull beef

Soil: variable

Avg farm cover (kg DM/ha): 658

Grass growth (kg DM/ha/day): n/a

The recent dry spell has reduced grass growth over the last few weeks. Last year’s autumn-born bulls have been mixed-grazing with sheep since turnout in March. Last week I split them in order to introduce meal to the bulls.

Faecal samples have also been taken from the bulls this week, as I noticed a few of them with very loose manure and I hope to have the results of them next week. Cows are not calving until July, so grass demand is relatively low and, as result, I have already taken out 80 surplus bales from paddocks in order to keep quality in the grass.

I also have 12 acres burned off, which will be reseeded in the coming weeks. Last week, the remaining bulls and heifers were slaughtered, as well as a few cull cows. Silage ground – which has been closed a while at this stage – is doing OK, but with the bit of rain promised towards the end of the week, I am hopeful it will drive on well.

James Flaherty

Co Kerry

System: suckler to weanling

Soil: variable

Avg farm cover (kg DM/ha): 1,266

Grass growth (kg DM/ha/day): 69

I am very happy with grazing conditions here at the moment. Grass covers are very good and the ground is exceptionally dry – probably as dry as I have ever seen it.

With conditions so good it is a great opportunity to take out paddocks. I took out some last month, and I took more out last Thursday. I got a total of 40 bales from 6.7ha and while that might not seem like a large quantity it is going to be excellent quality.

This “rocket fuel” will be used to feed my finishing stock over the winter, which will in turn cut down on my meal bills.

Of the paddocks taken out, two of these had grown too strong for grazing. I took the other paddocks out to allow me to reseed them straight away.

I will burn off the re-growths this week, harrow the soil in two weeks’ time and then stitch in the seed. I hope to have this ground back in rotation by July.

Glen McDermott

Co Sligo

System: suckler to weanling

Soil: free-draining loam with peat

Avg farm cover (kg DM/ha): 512

Grass growth (kg DM/ha/day): 46

Parts of the farm are beginning to burn up. I spread fertiliser (18-2.5-14 with 2% sulphur) a fortnight ago and, to be honest, I regret doing so. Growth has slowed and there is no significant rain due until the middle of next week. That being said, we have a decent supply of grass ahead of cattle and the BETTER farm team tells me that animal performance is at its best when grass is tight – I hope they’re right.

Breeding is going well. In my 20-strong spring-calving herd there are only two cows left to serve. I am using maternal Simmental bulls like Curaheen Gunshot, Auroch Deuter and Clonagh Frosty King.

At my farm planning meeting this week, we decided to move all of my calving to the spring. I hope to have 60 suckler cows by 2020 and the fact that I am involved in running a local bar and restaurant means that it suits me best to calve in January and February. The herd is split spring and autumn at present, and I will pull them into one spread over the next few years.

Ger O’Dwyer

Tullamore Farm, Co Offaly

System: suckler to bull beef

Soil: variable

Avg farm cover (kg DM/ha): 588

Grass growth (kg DM/ha/day): 65

Growth is well above our demand of 41kg DM/ha/day. We are currently stocked at 3.08 LU/ha, with 14 days ahead.

After this week’s grass walk, 2.65ha was mowed on Tuesday and baled on Wednesday evening. If rain comes at the weekend, there may be more to mow next week. We also have 7.12ha taken out for reseeding and we plan to spray off another 1.47ha this week.

Grass seed that went in on 20 April has struck but needs rain. This was reseeded with 14kg/acre of Abergain and 1kg/acre of Aberherald clover using a min-till machine. It also received 2.5 bags of 0:7:30 and 2t of lime to the acre.

Breeding started in the cows on 1 May, and 45 out of 87 were submitted for AI by 10 May. Twenty three cows, which calved in April, are also running with one of the Limousin stock bulls. Thirteen out of 15 heifers have been bred to AI, and on Tuesday the Angus bull was turned out with this group of heifers.

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Grass plus - dairy: Balmy weather increases growth rate