We have been very focused on trying to improve our grassland production in recent years. One area identified is the level of compaction in some of our paddocks. With high stocking rates and a number of very wet periods in recent years, soil has become very compacted in places.

A couple of test digs showed that the level of compaction was only to a depth of 3-4 inches, so a shallow aeration was only necessary. We are currently using a Pogue aerator to aerate our grassland. It’s a spiker that is set at angle so it’s giving excellent shattering effect.

The ground is dry so it’s working particularly well. We used it last week on two areas that are prone to standing water after heavy rain, so I’m happy to see after two days of heavy rain this weekend that there is no water visible. Hopefully we will see similar results in our cattle paddocks.

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I am surprised how difficult it is to pull through our paddocks, which just shows how tight and compacted the soil is. It isn’t a fast job but I’m still managing about four acres per hour.

Beef

As the weather begins to turn, we now have to decide what is going to be finished outside and what is going to be housed for finishing. I like to keep the number going into the shed for finishing to absolute minimum as I find they are always the least profitable, even when factoring in the price rise in the run up to Christmas.

This bunch usually are the youngest animals on the farm and have achieved the optimum covering of flesh. The animals that are housed will be built up and fed ad-lib meal.

They are also offered either silage or hay. This is solely as a roughage source in the diet.