Feed

After three weeks of declining grass growth rates, the heatwave this week sent many farms into a serious grass deficit. On most farms it is not a question of whether or not they should feed supplement, instead it is a question of how much. In a year when silage has been and continues to be scarce, feeding it back in summertime is not what we want to be doing. But experience has taught us that grass growth increases over and above the normal after a dry spell, so the hope is that whenever the weather does break, more silage will be made as opposed to fed. There is rain in the forecast for early next week, but because average farm covers are low, supplement will have to continue to be fed even after the rain comes, if it comes at all.

How much supplement to feed depends on growth rate and average farm cover. In this regard, every farm is different so do what is right for your own farm and let your neighbours do what they think is best for them. What to feed depends largely on how much is to be fed. If up to 4 or 5kg of supplement is needed, then feeding meal is probably the easiest thing, but grass intakes must be cut back to slow down the rotation. Cows should be on a 20- to 25-day round length so a strip wire will be needed to maintain this. If more than 5kg/hd/day of supplement is needed then a forage like silage will be needed. If good-quality bales are on hand, feed these back. A well-made bale should have about 220kg of dry matter in it.

An alternative to silage and meal is feeding straights such as palm kernel expeller (PKE). This is a very common feed in New Zealand as it is a good supplement to grass. Where silage is scarce, this is an ideal feed to fill the gap as it can be fed in relatively high quantities without causing stomach problems. It’s not very palatable so cows won’t gorge themselves on it so they can get ad-lib access.

Cost-wise, I’m hearing reports of it being available tipped in a yard for between €170 and €190/t. Feeding 5kg or 6kg of PKE during the current dry spell instead of silage would be a good decision, as it is easier to feed concentrates outside when the weather is dry and utilisation is good.

Milking

Milk liners should be changed at 2,000 milkings. Failure to change liners will result in more liner slippage, slow milking and fat absorption in the rubber. Farmers who started with a new set of liners in spring will need to change them soon. Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland (SEAI) has launched a new grant for the retrofitting of energy-saving equipment in milking parlours.

There are three options: retrofit new vacuum pump and variable speed drive; retrofit variable speed drive to existing vacuum pump; and retrofit a variable-speed milk pump. Grant aid of 40% is available in all cases. With the grant, the payback period is significantly shortened but it does depend on the number or rows being milked and the size of the parlour. Keep a close eye on the bulk tank chilling unit and the water supply to cows during the current warm spell.