There is little or no regional difference in growth rates at present. The countrywide average is 58kg DM/ha/day, with the north and west ranging from 55-57kg and the east and south ranging from 59-60kg.

But in terms of grazing conditions around the country, it is a tale of two halves.

Farms in the east and the south are getting low levels of rainfall (5-25mm in the last week) resulting in ideal conditions for back-end grazing.

On the flip side, conditions in the north and west of the country are almost at breaking point, with another 50-80mm of rain in the last week.

Unfortunately, these conditions could force an early winter on affected farms – grass covers are declining rapidly (Newford herd is going through grass covers 50-75% quicker than it should) and fertiliser spreading to promote growth has been impossible.

Concentrates

While grass quantities in some parts are declining, grass quality is also moving in the same direction.

Added to this, on farms that have received high levels of rainfall, grass DM is currently down at 11-12%. This time last year it would have been 17-18%.

This means that grass alone is no longer sufficient for finishing animals.

By the time you notice an animal losing condition, you are too late.

Concentrates need to be introduced. Minimum feeding rates of 0.5kg concentrate per 100kg liveweight are recommended for grazing animals near finishing at this time of year.

But in poor weather conditions and/or where grass quality is poor, double this rate needs to be allocated. A 500kg animal would require about 5kg/day.

Studies at Grange show that feeding 0.50-0.75kg of concentrate per 100kg liveweight resulted in growth responses between 30g and 110g carcase per kilo of concentrate.

In poor conditions, responses will likely be at the upper end of this range. Energy is the limiting factor in autumn grass so concentrates fed should be high in energy with at least 30% starch and sugar.

Grass protein in autumn is relatively high so a 12-14% crude protein ration will suffice.