While it still isn’t where it should be for the time of the year, farm cover has recovered well on drystock farms, with an average farm cover of 636kg DM/ha recorded this week, while average growth rates were 7kg DM/ha above demand at 39kg DM/ha. Growth has skyrocketed in the hardest hit counties such as Laois, Kilkenny and Carlow, with predicted growth for the week ahead set to supersede these levels.

In the west, too much rain has arguably fallen, with ground conditions having lapsed and heavy covers of grass becoming more difficult to graze well. A problem shared by all farmers is the low dry matter in this lush grass that’s available. A small amount of roughage in the form of a bale of straw or hay in a ring feeder would greatly aid in keeping cattle’s stomachs right.

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Fertiliser

It’s last chance saloon for spreading any chemical N, with the closed period kicking in from 14 September. Slurry can be spread up until 30 September, with prudent use of both required to maximise grass growth and N utilisation. Older swards tend to drop off in growth from here on out, with newer reseeds tending to plough on, so prioritise these swards getting N as the return on kg N to kg DM will be highest.

Jack Spillane, Tipperary Calf Farm, Co Tipperary

We have received ample rain now and with demand being low, farm cover has recovered well. We will hold the 206 cattle we housed early for slaughter in the sheds at this point, with a draft to be done on these towards the end of the week. Fourteen cattle have been slaughtered to date, with a further 25 gone to the Tully Research Station.

Calves are on 1.5kg/day of a 16% ration and will remain on this. Grass dry matter has dipped considerably and cattle are noticeably less content. We are in an okay position fodder-wise, but I may take out some surplus if possible. Twelve acres of red clover silage remains to be cut this month. We stitched 18 acres into spring barley ground, after receiving a run of the power harrow last Friday, which will be grazed later in the autumn.

System :Dairy calf-to-beef

Soil Type:Variable

Farm cover (kg/DM/ha):754

Growth (kg/DM/ha/day):49

Demand (kg/DM/ha/day):18

Ken Gill, Clonbollogue, Co Offaly

For the first time in a number of weeks, growth is now ahead of demand. We were lucky that the in-calf cows were on older, stemmier pastures ahead of calving, and now that they have calved down and demand from them has increased, we have been off-loading finished cattle. The last 20 of the autumn 2024-born cattle will be heading to the factory next week. Cows are heading into light covers of 800kg DM/ha, which are predominantly new swards with clover. The new red clover sward which had been over-sown with peas and barley looks set for another light cut, having flowered out. The older red clover sward was harvested as third-cut, but I doubt I will get a fourth off it. The turnip and kale mix has finally started to green up, this will be grazed in November/December.

System :Organic suckler-to-beef

Soil Type:Variable

Farm cover (kg/DM/ha):470

Growth (kg/DM/ha/day):37

Demand (kg/DM/ha/day):26

Niall O’Meara, Killimor, Co Galway

Calving commenced on 19 August and 60% have calved to date. Most cows will be calved down by the end of the month, with only a handful to calve in October. Cows are calved outdoors and remain with the dry cows for a few days post-calving, before being moved onto a half-grazed paddock. At 10 days old, cows and calves go onto fresh grass. This is done to prevent udders becoming too full and issues with calves sucking, or cows having to be milked out. Farm cover is high and my intention is to mow out some of these paddocks, as I need a small number of bales to be comfortable for winter. All paddocks will receive a light application of seven to eight units of protected urea in the next few days. Cull cows and beef heifers have been introduced to meal at grass.