Average grass growth for the past week has been 62kg/day on our Grass+ farms. There is no doubt that it is a tale of two halves, with very poor growth up until Sunday, but much-improved growth since, when the harsh easterly winds died down and high, balmy temperatures took over.
While land nearly everywhere is very dry after six weeks of practically no rain, I don’t think we are in a drought scenario just yet, even on very dry land. That said, rain would be welcome – particularly for reseeds that are struggling to emerge. And there is still fertiliser sitting on top of land that needs to be washed in.
Overall, though, farming is easy in this weather. Pre-grazing yields are at target levels on most farms. At around 1,200 to 1,500kg, good clean-outs are easily achieved, and cows are milking well.
There is no excuse for not getting a good clean-out. Leaving grass behind now is a penny-wise but pound-foolish approach, because all you will have is more stem in the next round of grazing.
It’s particularly foolish for those who are short of grass to be leaving high residuals now.
There is some rain forecast for the weekend, but how much and where it will fall is not known.
Next week’s forecast is more mixed, but again it is hard to bank on how much rain will actually fall.
If growth rates stay at around 60kg/day, most farmers will be OK. Those whose demands are much higher should consider cutting some silage now to reduce demand.
Some farmers are questioning the use of urea in this weather. The science says it is still OK to spread. There is a good dew at night and where urea is spread on grass it is more protected from wind and direct sun.
Teagasc Curtins, Co Cork
Stocking rate (cows/ha) 4.6
Growth rate (kg/day) 57
Average farm cover (kg/cow) 141
Yield (l/cow/day) 24
Fat % 4.39
Protein % 3.52
Milk solids (kg/cow) 1.96
Supplement fed (kg/cow/day) 4
Growth rate has been holding steady for the last few weeks, at the mid to high 50s. We could do with rain, but there’s no guarantee we’ll get it, so we have had to reduce the demand by feeding 4kg of meal per cow. We also cut one-third of the silage ground last Friday, so this will reduce demand further. We haven’t included this area in the cover yet, though. We got six bales per acre and spread 2,500 gallons/acre after baling. Breeding is going well, with 80% served in 15 days, but the number of cows coming into heat seems to be slowing down now.
Loughrea, Co Galway
Stocking rate (cows/ha) 3.29
Growth rate (kg/day) 62
Average farm cover (kg/cow) 163
Yield (l/cow/day) 25.12
Fat % 4.46
Protein % 3.74
Milk solids (kg/cow) 2.12
Supplement fed (kg/cow/day) 3
We haven’t had rain in weeks, but it suits this farm. Grass got a bit tight last week, so cattle went back in and grazed a paddock that we had earmarked for silage. The cover was a bit strong, but it made a big difference, and we are now back to where we want to be. We recently spread two bags per acre of 18:6:12, so if we get rain over the weekend the farm will take off. We will then take out the meal.
Breeding is going OK, and we are on target for between 80% and 90% submitted in three weeks.
Ballylooby, Co Tipperary
Stocking rate (cows/ha) 4.7
Growth rate (kg/day) 74
Average farm cover (kg/cow) 125
Yield (l/cow/day) 24.5
Fat % 4.12
Protein % 3.61
Milk solids (kg/cow) 1.98
Supplement fed (kg/cow/day) 3
Average farm cover is on the low side, but growth rate is good, and where there is grass we are growing a lot – but regrowth tends to be slow enough. I have a high stocking rate, with nearly 40% of the farm closed for either silage or reseeding, so I am feeding 3kg of meal to reduce demand. Cows are in good form and they are bulling strong, with 61% served in 13 days. We are hosting a reseeding demonstration here with the Irish Grassland Association next Wednesday from 10.30am to 1pm. The farm will be signposted from Junction 11 on the M8 motorway.
Solohead, Co Tipperary
Stocking rate (cows/ha) 3.6
Growth rate (kg/day) 43
Average farm cover (kg/cow) 158
Yield (l/cow/day) 29
Fat % 4.51
Protein % 3.48
Milk solids (kg/cow) 2.39
Supplement fed (kg/cow/day) 1
Growth rate slowed a lot here this week, and the pre-grazing yields have dropped to about 1,000kg. The good thing is we are nailing residuals, and grass quality is good. Cows are milking very well, as they have been all spring. The yields are from the bulk tank collection. We plan to spread the whole farm with 23 units of nitrogen per acre before the rain at the weekend. We haven’t spread any nitrogen in about 10 days, but we have been spreading soiled water after grazing. Cows are going into paddocks next, which were cut for bales three weeks ago.
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