Growth has moved just under the 50kg mark and is now sitting at 49kg DM/ha/day. That’s basically unchanged from last week’s figure. While growth has held firm, the same can’t be said for ground conditions in many parts.
Extremely heavy rainfall moved up the centre and east of the country during Saturday and Sunday and caused flash flooding in some parts.
For southeastern counties, it had minimal effect on ground conditions and was actually welcome to rejuvenate soil moisture levels somewhat. Further north, in counties like Westmeath, Cavan, Monaghan, Leitrim, Roscommon, Sligo and Donegal, the rain has left ground conditions in a bad way. While counties up the western seaboard received less rain, it was still enough to wet ground once again after the rain that fell in August. With more rain – 150% to 300% of normal – forecast, autumn grazing looks set to become difficult in counties outside the southeast.
Last week, I outlined how every farm should be drawing up and implementing an autumn grazing planner to maximise autumn grazing and to set the farm up for grazing next spring. Despite the poor conditions, I’d still be adamant that this is the best way to manage grazing this autumn.
For a start, there’s no issue with pulling the targets forward. On heavy ground, the guideline is to start closing on 1 October, have 60% closed by 7 November and the remaining 40% by the middle of that month. Pull those dates forward seven to 10 days if you think it’s necessary. Anything grazed in the last five days can probably stay closed. It is recommended to close the dry ground first – this will be the ground with grass available next spring. Grazing the driest ground now will play into your hands.
If it’s suckler cows or heavy beef cattle, move them to the driest fields possible, graze and close. By the time you moved towards the wettest ground, have the cows weaned and the beef cattle housed or sold and use your weanlings/lightest stores to finish the final rotation. When grazing in the wet, a strip wire is your best friend. Move it every day, in the evening time where possible.
Growth has moved just under the 50kg mark and is now sitting at 49kg DM/ha/day. That’s basically unchanged from last week’s figure. While growth has held firm, the same can’t be said for ground conditions in many parts.
Extremely heavy rainfall moved up the centre and east of the country during Saturday and Sunday and caused flash flooding in some parts.
For southeastern counties, it had minimal effect on ground conditions and was actually welcome to rejuvenate soil moisture levels somewhat. Further north, in counties like Westmeath, Cavan, Monaghan, Leitrim, Roscommon, Sligo and Donegal, the rain has left ground conditions in a bad way. While counties up the western seaboard received less rain, it was still enough to wet ground once again after the rain that fell in August. With more rain – 150% to 300% of normal – forecast, autumn grazing looks set to become difficult in counties outside the southeast.
Last week, I outlined how every farm should be drawing up and implementing an autumn grazing planner to maximise autumn grazing and to set the farm up for grazing next spring. Despite the poor conditions, I’d still be adamant that this is the best way to manage grazing this autumn.
For a start, there’s no issue with pulling the targets forward. On heavy ground, the guideline is to start closing on 1 October, have 60% closed by 7 November and the remaining 40% by the middle of that month. Pull those dates forward seven to 10 days if you think it’s necessary. Anything grazed in the last five days can probably stay closed. It is recommended to close the dry ground first – this will be the ground with grass available next spring. Grazing the driest ground now will play into your hands.
If it’s suckler cows or heavy beef cattle, move them to the driest fields possible, graze and close. By the time you moved towards the wettest ground, have the cows weaned and the beef cattle housed or sold and use your weanlings/lightest stores to finish the final rotation. When grazing in the wet, a strip wire is your best friend. Move it every day, in the evening time where possible.
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