Average grass growth rate continues to be a very strong 83kg/day across the country. This is exactly the same as last week and is reflective of the superb weather. That said, many places got washed out by Friday evening’s thunderstorms. Farmers on dry land should view that rain as a blessing rather than a curse, as the forecast isn’t giving much rain until the middle of next week at the earliest. Those on dry land are seeing growth rates dip as soil moisture deficits bite. Things can change quickly, so walk the farm regularly and predict a deficit in advance.
Given the weather, the time of year and the fact that a lot of farmers cut a lot of their farm over the last few days, it’s sensible to increase the target average farm cover per cow. Rather than targeting 160 to 180kg/cow now, I’d be more comfortable to be at 180 to 200kg. Those on drier land and higher stocking rates should be at the upper end of the target. That doesn’t mean you should be grazing higher covers per se, it just means that you are carrying more feed on the farm. This is better than feeding bales and lots of meal in the event that growth rate crashes, like what happens in some years.
Generally, grass quality is fairly poor on most farms. Stemmy paddocks will have to be mowed at some stage, but the health warning with mowing and topping is that it will reduce growth rates, so don’t do too much together. Continue spreading fertiliser, even on farms that are dry, but use CAN or protected urea-based products rather than ordinary urea unless there is enough moisture in the soil. There are good dews at night time, but I wouldn’t be sure if this is enough to dissolve urea on grazed paddocks.
Growth rates are excellent but some farms are beginning to get dry.Set the target average farm cover at between 180 and 200kg/cow.Be aware of cutting too much of the farm and suppressing growth.Continue to spread CAN or protected urea.
Teagasc Curtins Farm, Cork
Stocking rate (cows/ha) 4.45
Growth rate (kg/day) 82
Average farm cover (kg/cow) 160
Yield (l/cow/day) 20.8
Fat % 4.48
Protein % 3.60
Milk solids (kg/cow) 1.7
Supplement fed (kg/cow/day) 0.1
Growth is still flying and even with silage paddocks included it’s growing more than 80kg per day. Our non-silage grazing paddocks averaged 120kg/day during the last week. We were fortunate to get 22mls of rain on Friday evening which should keep growth at current levels and maintain quality for another week and there is no evidence of any moisture stress in the immediate re-growths. We have skipped over paddocks and topped up with fertiliser for silage to keep demand at 70kg/day and a rotation length of 18 days. Even with those changes we are grazing a cover of 2,000kg DM/ha.
Teagasc Ballyhaise, Cavan
Stocking rate (cows/ha) 4.27
Growth rate (kg/day) 104
Average farm cover (kg/cow) 126
Yield (l/cow/day) 21.34
Fat % 4.22
Protein % 3.40
Milk solids (kg/cow) 1.62
Supplement fed (kg/cow/day) 1
Grass is jumping out of the ground here so we have skipped over more paddocks and we set demand at 68kg/day. Our cover per cow is a bit lower than you’d expect but on these soils I can’t see growth reducing any time soon.
Three cows haven’t been bulled yet. There were nine not served within 21 days and these got PG last week and six of them came bulling. We’re following the cows with 20 units of nitrogen after grazing which is spread once a week. Pre-grazing yield ranges from 1,300 to 1,500kg/ha and residuals are between 4.5 and 5.1cm.
Ardmore, Co Waterford
Stocking rate (cows/ha) 3.18
Growth rate (kg/day) 59
Average farm cover (kg/cow) 212
Yield (l/cow/day) 24.11
Fat % 4.02
Protein % 3.65
Milk solids (kg/cow) 1.9
Supplement fed (kg/cow/day) 3
Growth last week was 107kg/day but when I did a cover on Tuesday it was back to 59kg/day. I’d say it’ll be back again when I measure next week as things are gone very dry. We got no rain last weekend. I’ve reduced the stocking rate and let average farm cover go to 212kg/cow. It’s not ideal but I think it’s necessary. If growth was higher I’d be taking out paddocks for bales but we can’t justify that now. I’ve upped the meal to 3kg/cow so demand is 51kg and I’m blanket-spreading one bag/acre of CAN+S across the farm.
Cloghan, Co Offaly
Stocking rate (cows/ha) 3.85
Growth rate (kg/day) 89
Average farm cover (kg/cow) 170
Yield (l/cow/day) 25
Fat % 4.49
Protein % 3.55
Milk solids (kg/cow) 2.07
Supplement fed (kg/cow/day) 1.5
Growth rate is still good but land is drying out fast. It’s beginning to crack open in places. I’ve taken out a good few paddocks over the past few weeks and I’m happy enough with quality. I’d say I have about a third of the farm cut for bales, about one-third pre-mowed and the rest has been well grazed and doesn’t need to be cut. I took out two paddocks for reseeding and sowed a mix containing Aston Energy, Abergain, Aberchoice and Drumbo. I’m feeding 1.5kg of meal and I think I will keep feeding it for the summer.
Read more
Drought conditions posing a threat to grass growth
Average grass growth rate continues to be a very strong 83kg/day across the country. This is exactly the same as last week and is reflective of the superb weather. That said, many places got washed out by Friday evening’s thunderstorms. Farmers on dry land should view that rain as a blessing rather than a curse, as the forecast isn’t giving much rain until the middle of next week at the earliest. Those on dry land are seeing growth rates dip as soil moisture deficits bite. Things can change quickly, so walk the farm regularly and predict a deficit in advance.
Given the weather, the time of year and the fact that a lot of farmers cut a lot of their farm over the last few days, it’s sensible to increase the target average farm cover per cow. Rather than targeting 160 to 180kg/cow now, I’d be more comfortable to be at 180 to 200kg. Those on drier land and higher stocking rates should be at the upper end of the target. That doesn’t mean you should be grazing higher covers per se, it just means that you are carrying more feed on the farm. This is better than feeding bales and lots of meal in the event that growth rate crashes, like what happens in some years.
Generally, grass quality is fairly poor on most farms. Stemmy paddocks will have to be mowed at some stage, but the health warning with mowing and topping is that it will reduce growth rates, so don’t do too much together. Continue spreading fertiliser, even on farms that are dry, but use CAN or protected urea-based products rather than ordinary urea unless there is enough moisture in the soil. There are good dews at night time, but I wouldn’t be sure if this is enough to dissolve urea on grazed paddocks.
Growth rates are excellent but some farms are beginning to get dry.Set the target average farm cover at between 180 and 200kg/cow.Be aware of cutting too much of the farm and suppressing growth.Continue to spread CAN or protected urea.
Teagasc Curtins Farm, Cork
Stocking rate (cows/ha) 4.45
Growth rate (kg/day) 82
Average farm cover (kg/cow) 160
Yield (l/cow/day) 20.8
Fat % 4.48
Protein % 3.60
Milk solids (kg/cow) 1.7
Supplement fed (kg/cow/day) 0.1
Growth is still flying and even with silage paddocks included it’s growing more than 80kg per day. Our non-silage grazing paddocks averaged 120kg/day during the last week. We were fortunate to get 22mls of rain on Friday evening which should keep growth at current levels and maintain quality for another week and there is no evidence of any moisture stress in the immediate re-growths. We have skipped over paddocks and topped up with fertiliser for silage to keep demand at 70kg/day and a rotation length of 18 days. Even with those changes we are grazing a cover of 2,000kg DM/ha.
Teagasc Ballyhaise, Cavan
Stocking rate (cows/ha) 4.27
Growth rate (kg/day) 104
Average farm cover (kg/cow) 126
Yield (l/cow/day) 21.34
Fat % 4.22
Protein % 3.40
Milk solids (kg/cow) 1.62
Supplement fed (kg/cow/day) 1
Grass is jumping out of the ground here so we have skipped over more paddocks and we set demand at 68kg/day. Our cover per cow is a bit lower than you’d expect but on these soils I can’t see growth reducing any time soon.
Three cows haven’t been bulled yet. There were nine not served within 21 days and these got PG last week and six of them came bulling. We’re following the cows with 20 units of nitrogen after grazing which is spread once a week. Pre-grazing yield ranges from 1,300 to 1,500kg/ha and residuals are between 4.5 and 5.1cm.
Ardmore, Co Waterford
Stocking rate (cows/ha) 3.18
Growth rate (kg/day) 59
Average farm cover (kg/cow) 212
Yield (l/cow/day) 24.11
Fat % 4.02
Protein % 3.65
Milk solids (kg/cow) 1.9
Supplement fed (kg/cow/day) 3
Growth last week was 107kg/day but when I did a cover on Tuesday it was back to 59kg/day. I’d say it’ll be back again when I measure next week as things are gone very dry. We got no rain last weekend. I’ve reduced the stocking rate and let average farm cover go to 212kg/cow. It’s not ideal but I think it’s necessary. If growth was higher I’d be taking out paddocks for bales but we can’t justify that now. I’ve upped the meal to 3kg/cow so demand is 51kg and I’m blanket-spreading one bag/acre of CAN+S across the farm.
Cloghan, Co Offaly
Stocking rate (cows/ha) 3.85
Growth rate (kg/day) 89
Average farm cover (kg/cow) 170
Yield (l/cow/day) 25
Fat % 4.49
Protein % 3.55
Milk solids (kg/cow) 2.07
Supplement fed (kg/cow/day) 1.5
Growth rate is still good but land is drying out fast. It’s beginning to crack open in places. I’ve taken out a good few paddocks over the past few weeks and I’m happy enough with quality. I’d say I have about a third of the farm cut for bales, about one-third pre-mowed and the rest has been well grazed and doesn’t need to be cut. I took out two paddocks for reseeding and sowed a mix containing Aston Energy, Abergain, Aberchoice and Drumbo. I’m feeding 1.5kg of meal and I think I will keep feeding it for the summer.
Read more
Drought conditions posing a threat to grass growth
This is a subscriber-only article
SHARING OPTIONS: