Grazing: As we move into October, thoughts will be turning towards closing up paddocks for the winter. Most farmers target closing paddocks from 5 or 6 October and aim to have at least 60% of the farm closed by the end of October, with the remainder of the farm grazed in early November. That rarely goes according to plan on heavy farms as the weather dictates what happens and when. Even on dry farms, the actual date of closing the first paddock should really be dependent on average farm cover in November. In other words, some paddocks that you think you are closing now could in fact be grazed again if growth is good, or vice versa.

Paddocks closed now will carry the highest covers next spring. All going well, you should be grazing these paddocks in early March. Think about where you want to be grazing at that time of year, with high covers. These paddocks need to be relatively dry and have multiple access points, because cows will be spending a lot of time grazing them. Equally, the paddocks that are grazed in late October are likely to be the first to be grazed next spring. Where do you want these to be? The wettest paddocks on the farm should be grazed last in autumn, if possible.

Slurry: The last day you are permitted to spread slurry is two weeks away on 14 October. As paddocks are grazed and closed, it’s a good opportunity to get slurry spread before the closed period. Remember, farmers in a nitrates derogation need to use low-emission-type slurry spreaders from now on, including all of next year. Changes to organic nitrogen levels from 85kg to 89kg in dairy cows mean more farmers will be in derogation next year. Grass contamination with low emission slurry spreaders is less than with a splash plate, so fields with low covers that will be grazed again this year can also be spread now.

An important job at this time of year is checking downpipes and gutters on shed roofs to make sure that rainwater is not getting its way into tanks. Similarly, internal water drinkers should be checked for leaks. Make sure any run-off from yards isn’t entering tanks. These steps will help to make sure that the tanks don’t fill up quicker than expected over the winter period.

Body condition scoring (BCS): It’s a crucial time for BCS on dairy cows. October is a month when BCS can be stripped off cows – long walks and wet conditions. It’s something that needs to be monitored and immediate action taken. The target average BCS at drying off is three, with the range from 2.75 to 3.25. A bit like looking at liveweight, the range is far more important than the average. For example, the average could still be three, but if 20% of the herd are at 2.5 then that’s potentially a disaster.

Any cow less than 2.75 today needs minding. First thing to look at is the cause of low BCS. Is it lameness, health problems or not enough dry matter intake? Often, it’s the younger and older cows that are thinnest. Early dry off or once-a-day milking of the thin cows is the best option to set the cows up for next season.