Closing paddocks

To ensure you have grass next spring you must start closing paddocks now. Paddocks closed today will grow about 1.2t of grass per ha between now and 1 February, whereas paddocks closed in early November will only grow about 0.3t/ha between then and February. When comparing profitability between farms, it is tonnes of grass eaten per ha that has the biggest influence on profit, with a lot of the extra profit generated by getting cows out early in the spring. Unless you close paddocks now, you won’t have grass in spring. Everything that you do on farm now must be geared towards having enough grass in the spring as it is far more valuable then than now. You should have at least 60% of the farm grazed and closed by the end of October. Exactly what date you start closing on will depend on how much grass you have at the end – the decision to graze a paddock that you intended to close early can be made at that stage. To get the area grazed, some farmers are grazing lighter covers, reducing supplement and some are even bringing in-calf heifers on to the platform. It’s better to graze as much of the farm now as you can if conditions are good and then stretch out the round with supplement, if required, in November.

Worms

From listening to a number of farmers and vets, there seems to be an increased incidence of worm burden in calves this autumn. Both lungworm and stomach worms are problems, with the wet autumn being a big factor in the increased rates. Animals with lungworm will have a hoose-type cough while animals with stomach worms will have very loose dungs. Thrive will be badly affected in both cases. A bad case of lungworm is a very serious problem that requires veterinary advice to tackle it the right way. To reduce exposure, try to graze young stock on clean pastures such as after-grass from second-cut silage. Follow dosing regimes carefully and keep a close eye on young stock for signs of hoose. Adult cows can be affected by hoose and stomach worms too.

Empty cows

This week we go through the results of breeding on the Teagasc dairy research farms. The progress in fertility performance on these farms over the last 10 years has been outstanding, due primarily to better genetics (EBI) and hybrid vigour (crossbreeding) and also to better breeding management. The question at farm level is what to do with the empty cows. There is a premium being paid for young empty cows in milk now, that won’t be there in December. When you take into account the full costs of milking these cows on, it looks like you would be better off selling them now if you can. The case for selling now is even stronger on farms in heavy land where fodder is going to be scarce. Keeping the cows and milking them on will help cashflow this autumn, but that’s not much good if you have to source scarce silage next April. Farmers who keep all empty cows to fatten on grass next summer would be better off milking them for as long as they can.