There are well over 100 cows calved on Greenfield Farm and it changes fast by the day.

The third milk collection was picked up Friday and to date 4,950 litres (475kg milk solids) at 5.25% fat and 4.07% protein on average have been collected by Glanbia. Lactose is averaging 4.62%. The three cell counts were 242,000, 98,000 and 250,000 cells/ml respectively.

The CMT paddle is a great tool at this time of the year to identify quarters that are infected. Most of this milk has been produced on once-a-day milking as the lads focus on calving cows and looking after newborn calves.

Exceptional

The last grass cover was measured on Monday 12 February and it came in at 1,397kg average cover with a growth rate of 28kg per day. This is exceptional for the time of the year.

Eighteen tonnes of a 16% nut were delivered at €285/t. The cows are on 3 to 4kg of nuts and grazed grass at the moment as grazing conditions are excellent, like many parts of the country.

The key now will be to continue grazing as weather conditions dictate. All farmers are using paddocks with good access, spur roads, and back fencing.

Grazing target

Remember the target is to get 30% of the grass on the farm eaten by end of February but I know some farmers who are maybe going to end up with slightly more eaten as conditions are so good. Not the end of the world but may very well need to plug some feed back in towards the end of March.

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Calving just about to kick off in Kilkenny