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Ground conditions are slowly improving and over the coming week, there may be an opportunity to slip a few cattle out to grass, taking the pressure off housing facilities.
But before you open the shed door, there are a few things to think about first. These include which cattle will go out first, where will they graze and can they be brought back inside quickly if the weather takes a turn for the worse.
Outlined are five tips to gett the grazing season under way.
Lighter cattle should be first out to grass. With less weight on the ground, there will be less damage to swards and grass supplies will stretch further.
Ideally, target autumn-born calves or yearling heifers that are being kept as replacements. Getting these animals out to grass now will drive weight gain, meaning heifers are more likely to reach bulling weights of 420kg to 450kg.
Heavier cattle can go to grass later in spring when ground conditions improve significantly and there is more grazing available.
Turn out a handful of cattle at a time, for example six to eight animals, and leave them to settle at grass.
Once animals have settled, you can add a few extra cattle if ground conditions and grass covers permit.
With smaller groups, there will be less damage to swards and fewer cattle to bring in if the weather turns wet again.
Silage fields tend to be the driest on farm, so target grazing these areas first. Grazing silage fields in March will not impact on the yield of grass harvested in the first cut.
In fact, it will actually improve silage quality, as young cattle will graze off any dead matter in the sward, leaving a clean base to fertilise and close off for first cut.
If you manage to turn cattle out this month, don’t be tempted to hold animals in a paddock until the sward has been fully cleaned out. This is more likely to make animals unsettled.
Instead, graze a paddock for three to five days, then move them on. There is no risk of grass heading out so early in spring, so paddocks can be cleaned out in the next rotation, most likely when there are more cattle at grass and in each grazing group.
Once a paddock has been grazed, it is crucial that the sward is rested and protected. Close cattle out of a paddock, or use a back fence to keep animals off the grazed area.
Where grass covers are low, there is an increased risk of poaching during early spring. Locking cattle off these areas will allow covers to build for the next rotation.
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