Trevor Boland

Dromard, Sligo

Grass supply on the farm is just where we want it. Growth is starting to kick off. Where a batch of 49 heifers are grazing there is a demand of 46kgDM/ha but growth this week on that block is 72kgDM/ha. The bulk of the silage ground is on the home farm, where the cows and calves are. We hope to be cutting the last week of this month. Most of the cows are autumn-calving and are now dry. They are being pushed harder on their grazing to manage condition. They are out about five or six weeks now and you can see condition building. The calves are doing well and are averaging 300kg to 350kg at the moment. The bulls will be sold in July while the heifers will be kept on for finishing next spring.

Declan Marren

THRIVE farm, Tipperary

A further four paddocks were taken out this week as growth remains above demand. However, things are coming back into line. Just over 6ac was taken out in total which yielded six and a half bales to the acre. Yearling stock are entering covers of between 1,200kg DM/ha and 1,400 kgDM/ha consistently.

At this stage, 103 of the 140 calves are at grass full-time. The oldest batch of 36 were in earlier in the week for their clostridial vaccine booster. Calves have done well over the last few weeks since turnout and typically range from 88kg to 110kg so we are happy with that. These calves are now grazing some of the lightest regrowths from paddocks taken out last week as we try to increase their grass intake.

Diarmuid Murray

Co Roscommon

Our system sees us take all stock through to finish from our dairy cow herd. We have to finish all beef cattle before the second winter so we start drafting from August onwards. The weather has been a treat for us over the last number of weeks. At this stage, grazing ground has received 75 units of nitrogen, mostly protected urea. We are currently following stock with 20 units after each grazing. Yearling cattle are doing well, grazing in three batches at the moment. Grass supply on the beef block is good with maybe two paddocks needing to be taken out as surplus in the coming week or with the pit silage. The next grass walk will answer that for us. We hope to be cutting silage around 18 May all going well.