Most soils are still experiencing restrictions to growth, with soil moisture deficits (SMDs) generally above 30mm, and soils in parts of the south and east experiencing full drought conditions with SMDs in excess of 75mm.

In contrast, soils in the west and northwest are largely back to field capacity. While showers are forecast for the coming week, any reductions in SMDs will be slight and ongoing restrictions to growth will continue.

There are really three types of farms at the moment, those farms that are back growing normally (>65kg/day; mainly along the west coast), the in between farms that have greened up after rain but still have low growth rates (20-40kg/day; north cork, midlands, north east) and finally those farms with continuing severe SMD with little or no growth (<15kg/day; east coast, Carlow, Kilkenny, Tipperary).

On farms with adequate moisture growing normally, now is the time to extend rotation length and build grass supply over the next month.

Aim to bring average farm cover to 900kg DM/ha by 1 September and 1,100kg DM/ha for mid-to-late September by extending rotation length from 25 days to 35 days over the next month.

The second group of in- between farms have greened up over the last two weeks, but there is still very little growth and more rain will be required.

These farms should continue to monitor grass supply, use dairy soiled water and slurry after grazing to boost recovery and continue to supplement animals with silage and concentrate at a high rate to allow grass to build as more rain in the coming weeks allows these farms to recover.

The third group of farms in severe SMD have little or no growth.

These farms should aim to maintain a 25-30 day rotation and continue to feed the herd 18-20kg of an overall diet based mainly on silage, concentrates and straights.

These farms really need to do a fodder budget now as there will be no significant recovery in grass growth over the next month and a prolonged period of supplementation will be required.

Swardwatch

  • Drier farms should keep rotation length at 25-30 days and feed supplements to achieve an overall daily animal intake of 18-20kg DM/cow.
  • On farms which have greened up but are still not growing, apply soiled water and dilute slurry for a boost.
  • Farms growing in excess of 35kg DM/day should extend rotation length to 30 days and build average farm cover.

    • Dairy farmers

    Pat Walshe – Durrow, Co Laois

    There is effectively no grass on the farm at the moment, and the only paddocks that are growing are reseeds.

    I’m maintaining a 25-day rotation length. In addition to the parlour concentrate, the herd are on a diet of 8kg of straights, 1-2kg of grass and the remainder of the diet is silage.

    For the next two weeks, we’ll continue on the same diet. We have already bought some winter feed, but more will be needed.

    We plan to scan the herd in early September and see then about culling. Calves and heifers are also on a zero-grass diet, with the heifers getting silage and calves getting hay and concentrates.

    Stocking rate (LU/ha) 3.0

    Growth (kg/ha) 7

    Average farm cover (kg/ha) 276

    Yield (l/cow) 16.5

    Fat (%) 5.55

    Protein (%) 3.88

    Milk solids (kg/cow) 1.5

    Concentrates (kg/cow) 5

    Eoin McGrath – Teagasc Moorepark, Co Cork

    Growth rate has declined from 25kg/day last week. The farm has greened up but regrowths are poor.

    There is very little difference in regrowth between the different sward types. We are maintaining a 28-day rotation length with a pre-grazing yield of 700kg DM /ha. The herd are on a diet of 7kg of grass and 7kg of silage in addition to the concentrate.

    The plan is to stick to the same diet for the next two weeks. We applied some soiled water on paddocks but got a very poor response. We are short on winter feed so we will need to buy silage to replace the feed we’re putting out each day at the moment.

    Stocking rate (LU/ha) 2.5

    Growth (kg/ha) 9

    Average farm cover (kg/ha) 419

    Yield (l/cow) 18.1

    Fat (%) 5.36

    Protein (%) 4.04

    Milk solids (kg/cow) 1.7

    Concentrates (kg/cow) 4

    Sean O’Donnell – Ballina, Co Mayo

    We are back to normal growth for this time of year now. Pre-grazing yield is 1,500kg DM/ha and grass quality is good. The herd are on a full grass diet with 2kg of concentrate. We’re currently on a 26-day rotation and will be building grass supply from now on.

    Our aim is to build cover to a peak of 1,100kg/ha in mid-September and extend round length to 40 days by 1 October. We have put soiled water on the clover paddocks, and the remainder of the farm has been blanket spread with 30 units of N.

    Some older high SCC cows will be sold in early September and the remaining culls will be housed and milked once a day.

    Stocking rate (LU/ha) 3.2

    Growth (kg/ha) 86

    Average farm cover (kg/ha) 743

    Yield (l/cow) 21.0

    Fat (%) 5.30

    Protein (%) 4.10

    Milk solids (kg/cow) 2.0

    Concentrates (kg/cow) 2