Dealing with weather woes

Grazing conditions have deteriorated significantly on many farms over the last two weeks, particularly in the north and west of the country. Farms in the east and the south are faring better but they too have experienced enough rainfall to at least soften the ground.

The rest of the week looks unsettled and early forecasts suggest more heavy rain could cross the country at the start of next week. I spoke with some of the farmers in the worst affected regions to see what they are doing to manage grazing and housing.

A combination of weaning cows and calves, housing and clever grazing appears to be the best solution.

Weaning to buy time at grass

Co Sligo

Ground is getting very wet over here now and we have had no option but to start getting heavy cattle off the land.

Grass utilisation was becoming the biggest problem because, as we were trying to minimise ground damage, cattle had to be moved much earlier than they should have been.

As of the beginning of this week, we had 30 out of 42 cows and calves weaned in an effort to buy extra time for calves at grass

We were starting to find that if cattle were left even one night too long, the paddock would be damaged the next morning.

As of the beginning of this week, we had 30 out of 42 cows and calves weaned in an effort to buy extra time for calves at grass.

We are going in once or twice per week and picking five or six cows out of the group.

Calves at grass

This means the calves stay behind at grass with the main herd while the cows are pulled into the shed.

They are getting hay at the moment to dry them off. The bull calves are being offered concentrates in a creep feeder too.

We have also pulled in most of the beef heifers and some of the replacement heifers that were grazing on heavier ground.

There are 25 to 30 in-calf replacements still outdoors. I’m hoping these and my 42 weanlings can stay out until 1 November at least, but it’s all really going to be dependent on weather conditions between now and then.

While weaning took place slightly earlier than we had hoped, it certainly was the best solution and we are not moving through the rotation as quickly.

Winter well and truly started

Co Monaghan

It has been raining here for the last two months and at this stage ground is sopping. It has effectively put an end to the grazing season. At the start of this week, I had two-thirds of the cattle housed and by the weekend I’ll more than likely have the rest of them in the shed too.

I have managed to graze off most fields for the winter

That will be three groups of cows and calves and all of my store and replacement heifers.

Of course I would have liked to be staying out longer but there’s really nothing I can do with the way ground is. On top of that, I have managed to graze off most fields for the winter.

They were grazed quicker than they should have been, but I’m still happy they are clean enough to grow a good-quality sward over the winter for grazing next spring. If weather settles down and land soaks in a month, I will hopefully get to clean off the final few paddocks – either by letting heifers back out, or by zero-grazing.

Usually I’d need around 1,000 bales for the winter

During the shoulders of the year, I would often be zero-grazing but land is even too wet for that as well.

Silage feeding has commenced but I’m not too worried about that.

Usually I’d need around 1,000 bales for the winter. At present, I have about 1,600, bolstered by 300 carried over from last year.

Sheds last week were quite warm but calves should be OK since they were vaccinated against pneumonia

Thankfully, I am well set up with creep areas for all the calves. I’m also very pleasantly surprised with how well they have settled.

They are getting concentrates and silage in the creep area and seem extremely content. My only concern is the mild temperatures.

Sheds last week were quite warm but calves should be OK since they were vaccinated against pneumonia.

Gradually reducing stocking rate

Co Mayo

Ground conditions are only middling at best on the farm now. The weather has been very up and down for the last month and it means that ground gets sticky after any sort of rain. You have to be very cute to manage it.

On the outfarm where my recent autumn walk was held, I have 20 bulls still grazing.

I think gradually reducing the stocking rate and housing a small number of bulls each week was the best solution

At the time of the walk four weeks ago, I had near 30 bulls grazing and three weeks before that I had 40 bulls there. I think gradually reducing the stocking rate and housing a small number of bulls each week was the best solution and it’s working well thankfully.

As the bulls are being housed, they are getting a pneumonia vaccination, a booster for clostridial disease and a dose against fluke, worm and skin parasites. They start off on a diet of high-quality silage and 3-4kg/head/day of concentrates. Once settled, they will start moving up towards ad-lib meal and straw.

Stronger covers

At the same time, I’m reluctant to house everything if I can avoid it because I do have some stronger covers that need eating prior to closing.

The 20 bulls still outdoors are now split into two batches to leave grazing management easier.

I find beef cattle not fed concentrates at this time of the year will go backwards quickly

Each group is being moved every day or one and a half days now to keep them settled.

They are receiving 2kg/head/day to compensate for a decline in grass dry matter and quality. I find beef cattle not fed concentrates at this time of the year will go backwards quickly.