To manage the current squeeze on margins, Dairylink programme farmers have refocused their attention on factors that they can positively influence or change on their own individual farms.

The top priority on most farms is cash control by way of budgeting forward with cashflow plans. Looking at cash inflow and outflow from the business is critical when margins are so tight.

Taking control of farm spending and identifying the peaks and troughs in cashflow on each individual farm will make a difference in the current financial climate and may be the only way a farm business can survive.

The next priority area for all Dairylink farmers is setting the grazing platform up for next spring.

Grazed grass has been proven with research and independent studies to be the cheapest feed available for milking cows and should therefore be the primary element in a cow’s diet, especially given the current financial pressure on dairy farms.

With this in mind, ensuring good grass availability next spring and that herds are grazing it as early as possible will help to relieve the pressure on many farmers if current milk prices continue.

Making grass work

On many farms, concentrates account for two thirds of direct milk production costs, yet at the same time grass is often underutilised.

In many cases, cows are grazing much too heavy grass covers, while being supplemented with unnecessarily high levels of concentrate.

Increasing utilisation of grazed grass in the diet and reducing concentrate feeding will reduce production costs.

With the good grazing conditions over the past fortnight, combined with quality swards and the availability of after-grass, many farms have the potential to save on concentrate, yet many farmers are not achieving this.

Farmers should proactively target late-lactation cows for grazing in October, as these cows can be sustained on grass with very little supplement.

Closing grazing platform

Planning ahead now with some basic but fundamental steps on grass budgeting will guarantee grass is available next spring for the herd.

While the spring-calving herds in the project will follow a slightly different grass-closing model, the autumn-calving herds will be observing the following rules for autumn grass management in an attempt to set the farm up for spring turnout:

  • Start closing paddocks from 1 October – don’t graze these paddocks for the rest of the year.
  • Graze 100% of the farm by 5 November – graze paddocks with good roadway access first, as these will be grazed first in the spring.
  • Target closing average farm cover (AFC) of no less than 500kg/ha (2,000kg total cover) at closing in early November. To achieve this, AFC should be 950kg to 1,000kg at peak in late September.
  • Feed concentrate or house some stock if behind grass targets and unlikely to reach an AFC of 500kg before November. This will require weekly grass measurement and working with the budget.
  • Don’t let any other stock graze during the winter.
  • Spread slurry on paddocks as they are closed.
  • Spread nitrogen in early February.
  • Farmer Focus

    Robin Clements, Trillick, Co Tyrone

    Flexibility in the production system is a key factor for Robin in Co Tyrone. Managing cows in difficult weather conditions and on heavy clay soil type can be a considerable challenge, which requires an ability to react to specific conditions.

    So far this year, Robin has grown 7.8t DM/ha on the grazing platform, which is approximately 1.5t less than this time last year.

    Robin can see from his grass measurement data that the shortfalls came in early spring and mid-way through the summer when the area received persistent heavy rainfall.

    Regardless of the shortfall in grass this year on the farm, Robin is still committed to maximising grass utilisation.

    Currently, fresh-calved cows are housed at night and receive a base diet that includes high-quality silage and 2kg of a high-energy blend that consists of maize meal, sugar beet, soyabean and rapeseed designed to give 15 litres of milk per cow per day.

    With the cows still grazing during the day, the remainder of the diet is made up of grazed grass and 3kg of parlour nut. Currently, the main milking group of 80 cows consists of 60 fresh-calved cows and 20 late-lactation cows due to be dried off within the next 30 days.

    Robin’s average farm grass cover is lower than previous years and well below target for this time of year at 540kg DM/ha.

    Robin plans to start closing paddocks on 1 October. Consequently, the grazing platform will only be grazed by dry cows and late-lactation cows from October, with freshly calved cows being housed day and night once grazing conditions deteriorate.

    The subsequent lower stocking rate on the platform will help to build average cover.

    Robin is committed to getting cows out earlier next year and is planning to build a good wedge of grass approaching the winter, with an average farm cover of 500kg/ha the target closing cover for November.

    He also has the option to house all cows during October if necessary to meet the target.