The northeast of the country received up to 70mm of rain over the weekend which has made grazing difficult. With further heavy rain expected, animals will have to be housed to minimise poaching damage regardless of pasture supply.

Rainfall amounts over the coming week will be well above average nationwide, with the highest accumulations expected on the west coast. On heavier soils, on/off grazing will be required from now on to continue to graze while minimising poaching damage.

Avoid grazing heavy covers during the next few days until conditions improve.

In the south and east, current daily grass growth rates are still in the forties and are predicted to remain at typical longer term values of 30-40 kgDM/day for the next week.

With frost and lower night time temperatures, taking advantage of the current conditions to clean off heavier covers on drier soils has to be the priority. Pre-grazing yields are still in excess of 2,200kgDM/ha on many farms, so continuing to use strip wires is essential to utilise available grass.

Hold off on soiled water application for the next few days. When conditions improve, applying 2,000 gallons of soiled water per acre will supply approximately 10kg N/ha to swards (8 units N/acre) and will boost regrowth.

Continue to measure grass supplies weekly as growth rates will now reduce to normal late October levels quickly. As the remaining high pre-grazing herbage masses are removed, this will have a substantial effect on average farm cover, which could drop quickly over the next week.

The key targets to have in mind are that we want to keep grass in the diet of the herd up to early to mid-November, while leaving an average farm cover of 700–750kgDM/ha on 1 December. Farms should have at least 35% closed this week, with a target of 60% closed by early November.

There is still time to apply lime on farms if this is not already done. Raising soil pH will unlock N, P and K for the remainder of this year and into next year.

Swardwatch

  • Target closing paddocks for February grazing this week. Continue to prioritise graze outs to maximise pasture quality for next spring.
  • Keep silage out of the diet where possible, and use strip wires for 12-hour allocations to achieve residual target.
  • Graze off any remaining heavier covers when ground conditions allow.

    • Dairy farmers

    Bronwyn Fitzpatrick – Teagasc Ballyhaise, Co Cavan

    We got 40ml of rain in the last week so ground conditions are more difficult now. We are still grazing pre-grazing yields of 2,200kgDM/ha using strip wires and 12-hour allocations.

    We are getting good clean outs and the herd are still grazing full time. We have 48% of the farm closed now.

    Clover contents have been good this autumn, and grass clover swards are performing better than grass only swards. We will aim to keep grazing full time until early November and leave a closing average farm cover of 700kgDM/ha.

    We did the final scan this week and have 10% of the herd empty. These will be sold next week.

    Stocking rate (LU/ha) 2.4

    Growth (kg/ha) 38

    Average farm cover (kg/ha) 904

    Yield (l/cow) 15.0

    Fat (%) 5.40

    Protein (%) 4.53

    Milk solids (kg/cow) 1.5

    Concentrates (kg/cow) 3.0

    Joe Ryan – Ballinascarthy, Co Cork

    Grazing conditions are still good and pre-grazing yields have dropped from 2,200 to 1,800kgDM/ha this week.

    Im using a 12-hour wire. In addition to ration, cows are getting 3-4kgDM of zero-grazed grass at milking time and demand is 41kg/day.

    We’re expecting rain so we’re cleaning off the remaining heavy covers. We started closing paddocks on 4 October and we have 40% closed now.

    We will keep the herd out grazing full time until the end of the month. Im aiming for a closing cover of 750kgDM/ha to start calving with 1,000kgDM/ha in February.

    There were 5% of the cows empty so these will be sold in the next week or so.

    Stocking rate (LU/ha) 3.4

    Growth (kg/ha) 39

    Average farm cover (kg/ha) 772

    Yield (l/cow) 15.7

    Fat (%) 5.64

    Protein (%) 4.51

    Milk solids (kg/cow) 1.7

    Concentrates (kg/cow) 4.0

    Jim Curran – Grange, Co Waterford

    Grazing conditions are good, but growth has dropped from 44kg/day last week with the colder nights.

    We are currently grazing an August reseed for the second time before the weather changes.

    Pre-grazing yields are at 2,000kgDM/ha for the next three days and will drop back to 1,500kgDM/ha after that. Post-grazing residuals are good and we’re on 12-hour allocations to get through the heavy grass.

    We have about 48% of the farm closed now and aim to have 70% closed by 1 October. We have 10.6tDM/ha grown so far this year and we made a good bit of silage in recent weeks so we’re for winter feed now.

    Stocking rate (LU/ha) 2.8

    Growth (kg/ha) 26

    Average farm cover (kg/ha) 713

    Yield (l/cow) 11.5

    Fat (%) 6.01

    Protein (%) 4.53

    Milk solids (kg/cow) 1.2

    Concentrates (kg/cow) 2.0