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Title: Dealing with drought on Tullamore farm
Dry conditions have led to a difficult fortnight on Tullamore Farm. Adam Woods takes a look at what management decisions are being taken in the current conditions.
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Dry conditions have led to a difficult fortnight on Tullamore Farm. Adam Woods takes a look at what management decisions are being taken in the current conditions.
While there is still eight days grass ahead of stock, it was decided to go in with silage to both groups of cows and heifers late last week. Silage bales that were made on 18 May are being fed in round feeders in paddocks to slow the rotation down. This silage is high-quality set aside for feeding weanlings over the winter months but now has to be fed to cows.
Calves are moving under fences into the next paddock and grazing. Grass quality has deteriorated in the last week, with some heavy covers being grazed. Calves are currently being creep fed 2kg of concentrates in troughs in the paddocks adjacent to the cows.
Calf daily liveweight gains have been good up to this point, but growth will take a check as a result of this stressful period.
As calves increase the proportion of grazed grass in their diet, grass quality on the farm is less than ideal to achieve high liveweight gains. No topping or baling has taken place in the past two weeks as regrowth is too slow. Fertiliser spreading has also ceased, with the last fertiliser being spread two weeks ago. WThe complete lack of moisture means the nitrogen wouldn’t break down. Five acres of second cut silage will also be grazed this week in a bid to further extend the grazing rotation.
Health Issues
During the last period of very hot weather in early June, a pneumonia outbreak on the farm led to two calves being lost. Calves were vaccinated as a result of this and there have been no further health issues.
Meal feeding
There are currently 65 dairy x beef heifers grazing 22 acres. This group has five days grass ahead and grass growth on this block has dropped back to 20kg/DM/Ha/day over the past seven days. These heifers have started concentrate feeding in a bid to slow the rotation down. It was planned to start concentrate feeding with the heaviest of these heifers in early July anyway. The lighter heifers will be taken back off meal once rain returns and normal grass growth resumes.
Ewes being weaned
Lambs are now 12 to 13-weeks-old and the decision has been taken to wean all lambs and start to creep feeding them on some aftergrass. Ewes will be closed on bare paddocks over the next week to allow them dry off and prevent mastitis
While there is still eight days grass ahead of stock, it was decided to go in with silage to both groups of cows and heifers late last week. Silage bales that were made on 18 May are being fed in round feeders in paddocks to slow the rotation down. This silage is high-quality set aside for feeding weanlings over the winter months but now has to be fed to cows.
Calves are moving under fences into the next paddock and grazing. Grass quality has deteriorated in the last week, with some heavy covers being grazed. Calves are currently being creep fed 2kg of concentrates in troughs in the paddocks adjacent to the cows.
Calf daily liveweight gains have been good up to this point, but growth will take a check as a result of this stressful period.
As calves increase the proportion of grazed grass in their diet, grass quality on the farm is less than ideal to achieve high liveweight gains. No topping or baling has taken place in the past two weeks as regrowth is too slow. Fertiliser spreading has also ceased, with the last fertiliser being spread two weeks ago. WThe complete lack of moisture means the nitrogen wouldn’t break down. Five acres of second cut silage will also be grazed this week in a bid to further extend the grazing rotation.
Health Issues
During the last period of very hot weather in early June, a pneumonia outbreak on the farm led to two calves being lost. Calves were vaccinated as a result of this and there have been no further health issues.
Meal feeding
There are currently 65 dairy x beef heifers grazing 22 acres. This group has five days grass ahead and grass growth on this block has dropped back to 20kg/DM/Ha/day over the past seven days. These heifers have started concentrate feeding in a bid to slow the rotation down. It was planned to start concentrate feeding with the heaviest of these heifers in early July anyway. The lighter heifers will be taken back off meal once rain returns and normal grass growth resumes.
Ewes being weaned
Lambs are now 12 to 13-weeks-old and the decision has been taken to wean all lambs and start to creep feeding them on some aftergrass. Ewes will be closed on bare paddocks over the next week to allow them dry off and prevent mastitis
The 12% drop in fertiliser deliveries in NI last year is notable given that prices were well down from record highs seen the year before
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