Widespread heavy rain over most of the country at various times over the last week has helped to boost grass growth.
The average growth on our Grass+ farms is 63kg/day, which is more or less equal to last week and well behind the 10 year trend. However, most of the measurements include a period before the rain came. I think it’s safe to say that grass growth is well up everywhere since, and average farm covers should be back on track.
With mild weather in the forecast, we can presume we are facing into a period of rapid growth rates. This needs to be managed carefully. The objective is to put the best-quality grass in front of the cows, so target pregrazing yields of 1,400kg/ha to 1,500kg/ha. Any higher than this has too much stem.
While there aren’t too many farms in a surplus scenario yet, next week could be a different story. Skip over paddocks that get too strong, and either include them in the first cut, or cut them for bales earlier.
Be careful not to set demand too high. With unsettled weather on the way, there is no guarantee that silage will be cut on the dates planned.
The lower-than-normal growth rates up to now have meant that most farmers have been able to get away without resorting to topping or premowing. This is because pre-grazing yields have been at target levels and is also the reason why cows are milking exceptionally well on most farms.
The challenge now is to keep the good performance up and be proactive at skipping over strong paddocks. It’s not too late to take out paddocks for reseeding either.
In brief
Average grass growth is the same as last week at 63kg/day but growth rate is higher now.Watch that pre-grazing yields don’t get too strong, the ideal is 1,400 to 1,500kg.Paddocks will be getting strong by next week so close paddocks for silage or reseeding.Highly stocked farms should be spreading 30 units/acre in the month.
Teagasc Curtins, Co Cork
Stocking rate (cows/ha) 3.96
Growth rate (kg/day) 33
Average farm cover (kg/cow) 132
Yield (l/cow/day) 23
Fat % 4.29
Protein % 3.59
Milk solids (kg/cow) 1.87
Supplement fed (kg/cow/day) 2
We only got a growth rate of 33kg/day up to last Monday, but I know the farm is growing a lot more since the rain at the weekend. Because average farm cover is low and pre-grazing yields have dropped down to around 1,100kg/ha or 1,200kg/ha, we are continuing to feed 2kg of meal for the week but will do another grass walk tomorrow (Friday). Cows are getting 24 hours in a paddock when we would expect to be getting three grazings. We are 21 days into breeding and 94% were submitted for AI. We scanned those not yet served and eight cows got PG and two cows got CIDR.
Teagasc Ballyhaise, Co Cavan
Stocking rate (cows/ha) 4.65
Growth rate (kg/day) 66
Average farm cover (kg/cow) 157
Yield (l/cow/day) 23.9
Fat % 4.09
Protein % 3.52
Milk solids (kg/cow) 1.87
Supplement fed (kg/cow/day) 1
We got a good amount of rain over the weekend so grass is driving on. We are stocked highly, at 4.65 cows/ha, with ground out for silage in the high stocking rate group, so pre-grazing yield is a bit higher than we would like, at around 1,600kg/ha. Post-grazing height is between 4cm and 4.5cm. The plan is to cut silage earlier than normal this year. We are spreading 20 units/acre of nitrogen after grazing, so this is about 30 units/acre in the month. We have 35% of the herd served after six days of AI, so we are well on target.
Belmont, Co Offaly
Stocking rate (cows/ha) 4.21
Growth rate (kg/day) 70
Average farm cover (kg/cow) 187
Yield (l/cow/day) 27
Fat % 3.84
Protein % 3.56
Milk solids (kg/cow) 2.06
Supplement fed (kg/cow/day) 1.5
The rain that has fallen since last weekend was badly needed, and grass growth has jumped as a result. We took out two paddocks this week that were at 1,700kg/ha to 1,800kg/ha and we will cut them in a few weeks’ time. I spread fertiliser twice a month. Some paddocks are getting Richland, while others are getting N plus 7 units of P. I have the paddocks marked on the map so I know which ones are getting what. I have reseeded two paddocks. The plan is to use a cheap spray to kill the weeds and then broadcast clover with the fertiliser spreader before grazing.
Tulla, Co Clare
Stocking rate (cows/ha) 4.98
Growth rate (kg/day) 61
Average farm cover (kg/cow) 121
Yield (l/cow/day) 27.5
Fat % 4.02
Protein % 3.5
Milk solids (kg/cow) 2.13
Supplement fed (kg/cow/day) 3
We are highly stocked here for the summer with a demand of 74kg/day. We grew 61kg/day for the week up to last Monday, but I think we are growing more now. At this stocking rate you have to measure very often and react quickly. When farm cover and growth increases I will reduce the meal down to 2kg/cow, but it’ll stay in for now. Cows are grazing covers of 1,400kg/ha. I’m spreading a little over a bag of 27-2.5-5 per acre after grazing. I’ve three weeks of AI done and got 94% of the herd submitted. The vet is coming to scan the cows not seen bulling.
Read more
Grass+ beef: growth kicks 20% after moisture
Widespread heavy rain over most of the country at various times over the last week has helped to boost grass growth.
The average growth on our Grass+ farms is 63kg/day, which is more or less equal to last week and well behind the 10 year trend. However, most of the measurements include a period before the rain came. I think it’s safe to say that grass growth is well up everywhere since, and average farm covers should be back on track.
With mild weather in the forecast, we can presume we are facing into a period of rapid growth rates. This needs to be managed carefully. The objective is to put the best-quality grass in front of the cows, so target pregrazing yields of 1,400kg/ha to 1,500kg/ha. Any higher than this has too much stem.
While there aren’t too many farms in a surplus scenario yet, next week could be a different story. Skip over paddocks that get too strong, and either include them in the first cut, or cut them for bales earlier.
Be careful not to set demand too high. With unsettled weather on the way, there is no guarantee that silage will be cut on the dates planned.
The lower-than-normal growth rates up to now have meant that most farmers have been able to get away without resorting to topping or premowing. This is because pre-grazing yields have been at target levels and is also the reason why cows are milking exceptionally well on most farms.
The challenge now is to keep the good performance up and be proactive at skipping over strong paddocks. It’s not too late to take out paddocks for reseeding either.
In brief
Average grass growth is the same as last week at 63kg/day but growth rate is higher now.Watch that pre-grazing yields don’t get too strong, the ideal is 1,400 to 1,500kg.Paddocks will be getting strong by next week so close paddocks for silage or reseeding.Highly stocked farms should be spreading 30 units/acre in the month.
Teagasc Curtins, Co Cork
Stocking rate (cows/ha) 3.96
Growth rate (kg/day) 33
Average farm cover (kg/cow) 132
Yield (l/cow/day) 23
Fat % 4.29
Protein % 3.59
Milk solids (kg/cow) 1.87
Supplement fed (kg/cow/day) 2
We only got a growth rate of 33kg/day up to last Monday, but I know the farm is growing a lot more since the rain at the weekend. Because average farm cover is low and pre-grazing yields have dropped down to around 1,100kg/ha or 1,200kg/ha, we are continuing to feed 2kg of meal for the week but will do another grass walk tomorrow (Friday). Cows are getting 24 hours in a paddock when we would expect to be getting three grazings. We are 21 days into breeding and 94% were submitted for AI. We scanned those not yet served and eight cows got PG and two cows got CIDR.
Teagasc Ballyhaise, Co Cavan
Stocking rate (cows/ha) 4.65
Growth rate (kg/day) 66
Average farm cover (kg/cow) 157
Yield (l/cow/day) 23.9
Fat % 4.09
Protein % 3.52
Milk solids (kg/cow) 1.87
Supplement fed (kg/cow/day) 1
We got a good amount of rain over the weekend so grass is driving on. We are stocked highly, at 4.65 cows/ha, with ground out for silage in the high stocking rate group, so pre-grazing yield is a bit higher than we would like, at around 1,600kg/ha. Post-grazing height is between 4cm and 4.5cm. The plan is to cut silage earlier than normal this year. We are spreading 20 units/acre of nitrogen after grazing, so this is about 30 units/acre in the month. We have 35% of the herd served after six days of AI, so we are well on target.
Belmont, Co Offaly
Stocking rate (cows/ha) 4.21
Growth rate (kg/day) 70
Average farm cover (kg/cow) 187
Yield (l/cow/day) 27
Fat % 3.84
Protein % 3.56
Milk solids (kg/cow) 2.06
Supplement fed (kg/cow/day) 1.5
The rain that has fallen since last weekend was badly needed, and grass growth has jumped as a result. We took out two paddocks this week that were at 1,700kg/ha to 1,800kg/ha and we will cut them in a few weeks’ time. I spread fertiliser twice a month. Some paddocks are getting Richland, while others are getting N plus 7 units of P. I have the paddocks marked on the map so I know which ones are getting what. I have reseeded two paddocks. The plan is to use a cheap spray to kill the weeds and then broadcast clover with the fertiliser spreader before grazing.
Tulla, Co Clare
Stocking rate (cows/ha) 4.98
Growth rate (kg/day) 61
Average farm cover (kg/cow) 121
Yield (l/cow/day) 27.5
Fat % 4.02
Protein % 3.5
Milk solids (kg/cow) 2.13
Supplement fed (kg/cow/day) 3
We are highly stocked here for the summer with a demand of 74kg/day. We grew 61kg/day for the week up to last Monday, but I think we are growing more now. At this stocking rate you have to measure very often and react quickly. When farm cover and growth increases I will reduce the meal down to 2kg/cow, but it’ll stay in for now. Cows are grazing covers of 1,400kg/ha. I’m spreading a little over a bag of 27-2.5-5 per acre after grazing. I’ve three weeks of AI done and got 94% of the herd submitted. The vet is coming to scan the cows not seen bulling.
Read more
Grass+ beef: growth kicks 20% after moisture
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