Munster, particularly the south coast, has been hardest hit by storms Ellen and Francis. While less rain is forecast, we are now well and truly in autumn management mode and with daylight hours decreasing, soils will be slower to dry out.

  • Allocate grass in 12-hour breaks and use a back-fence to prevent cows from walking on overgrazed sections.
  • If land is very wet and all the drier fields are grazed, then on-off grazing or housing cows for a short period during the worst of the weather is the best option. Assess the situation on your farm and make an informed decision. Resume grazing as soon as conditions allow.
  • For most farmers, using 12-hour breaks and back-fencing will be sufficient to keep cows at grass.
  • Grass dry matters are very low so feeding some form of supplement, such as 1kg to 2kg of meal per cow will help to keep dry matter intakes up. This can be reduced when weather improves.
  • Don’t forget youngstock – weanlings in particular. Feeding 1kg of meal, even to those at target weight will help. Older stock such as in-calf heifers will not need meal, presuming they are at target weight.