For the first time this year, grass growth has dropped below demand and with very little rain forecast for the next seven days, a further drop in growth rate is anticipated for next week.
The farm grew 40kg of DM/ha/day over the last seven days, which is 10kg below the demand figure of 50kg. Farm cover is still ok at 900kg DM/ha, but this will change a lot when we work our way through a few string paddocks in the next few days.
There are currently 20 days of grass ahead of animals and the farm is stocked at 3.56 LU/ha.
There has been very little rain on the farm over the past three weeks and some actions will need to be taken next week if rainfall doesn’t occur.
A couple of things will be implemented on the farm over the next few days:
1. No more paddocks to be taken out
There are some heavy covers around 2,500kg DM/ha, but taking these out would leave the farm too short of grass, so these strong paddocks will be divided with an electric fence to increase utilisation and get a good graze-out.
In normal times, these paddocks would be taken out as baled silage, but all the grass on the farm is needed at the moment and regrowths would be too slow.
2. Silage is due to be cut at the weekend
This will buy an extra few days grazing around the headlands. This will allow paddocks that have been grazed more time to grow back.
A number of paddocks that would have been earmarked for silage in normal times will be grazed in the next few days.
We need to lengthen the rotation as much as we can to allow sufficient time for regrowths in the current conditions.
If grass growth is growing at 40kg DM/ha/day instead of 60kg, that means its taking an extra 10 days to get to 1,200kg DM/ha on a paddock.
The last thing we want to be doing is grazing the farm too quickly. Remember, it takes grass to grow grass, so grazing covers below 800kg DM/ha will be a short-term gain, but long-term pain.
3. Water supply is key during periods of very hot weather
Make sure that all drinkers in fields are working properly and are clean. Check drinkers daily, as a cut in supply will leave stock very restless.
There appears to be a low number of repeats to first service of AI.
Make sure any leaks are fixed immediately to ensure a full supply of water is getting around to all drinkers on the farm.
4. Fertiliser spreading has been suspended until rain has been forecast
The farm is up to date with fertiliser for May and will wait for moisture to spread any more.
5. The last change that will take place is meal feeding of heifers
This decision will be taken early next week. There are currently 61 spring 2019-born heifers grazing on the farm.
Tullamore Farm: There are currently 11 spring 2019-born bulls left on the farm.
In a bid to slow these up, meal may be introduced to this group next week.
Shaun Diver, farm manager, will start off at 3kg/head/day. The heifers are around 420kg, so would be consuming around 8kg DM grass daily.
For the first time this year, grass growth has dropped below demand and with very little rain forecast for the next seven days, a further drop in growth rate is anticipated for next week.
The farm grew 40kg of DM/ha/day over the last seven days, which is 10kg below the demand figure of 50kg. Farm cover is still ok at 900kg DM/ha, but this will change a lot when we work our way through a few string paddocks in the next few days.
There are currently 20 days of grass ahead of animals and the farm is stocked at 3.56 LU/ha.
There has been very little rain on the farm over the past three weeks and some actions will need to be taken next week if rainfall doesn’t occur.
A couple of things will be implemented on the farm over the next few days:
1. No more paddocks to be taken out
There are some heavy covers around 2,500kg DM/ha, but taking these out would leave the farm too short of grass, so these strong paddocks will be divided with an electric fence to increase utilisation and get a good graze-out.
In normal times, these paddocks would be taken out as baled silage, but all the grass on the farm is needed at the moment and regrowths would be too slow.
2. Silage is due to be cut at the weekend
This will buy an extra few days grazing around the headlands. This will allow paddocks that have been grazed more time to grow back.
A number of paddocks that would have been earmarked for silage in normal times will be grazed in the next few days.
We need to lengthen the rotation as much as we can to allow sufficient time for regrowths in the current conditions.
If grass growth is growing at 40kg DM/ha/day instead of 60kg, that means its taking an extra 10 days to get to 1,200kg DM/ha on a paddock.
The last thing we want to be doing is grazing the farm too quickly. Remember, it takes grass to grow grass, so grazing covers below 800kg DM/ha will be a short-term gain, but long-term pain.
3. Water supply is key during periods of very hot weather
Make sure that all drinkers in fields are working properly and are clean. Check drinkers daily, as a cut in supply will leave stock very restless.
There appears to be a low number of repeats to first service of AI.
Make sure any leaks are fixed immediately to ensure a full supply of water is getting around to all drinkers on the farm.
4. Fertiliser spreading has been suspended until rain has been forecast
The farm is up to date with fertiliser for May and will wait for moisture to spread any more.
5. The last change that will take place is meal feeding of heifers
This decision will be taken early next week. There are currently 61 spring 2019-born heifers grazing on the farm.
Tullamore Farm: There are currently 11 spring 2019-born bulls left on the farm.
In a bid to slow these up, meal may be introduced to this group next week.
Shaun Diver, farm manager, will start off at 3kg/head/day. The heifers are around 420kg, so would be consuming around 8kg DM grass daily.
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