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There is a good bit of grass on most farms - see Grass+.
Many have skipped over a few paddocks, but have yet to make a decision on what to do with them. If growth continues and stocking rate is high, they will whip them out next week for mid-April round bales. If growth slows a bit and they are not heavily stocked, many will top up with more nitrogen and stop them for early to mid-May silage.
Be very careful of grazing very low covers. At the very least you would like to see a cover of 1,200kg in a paddock before letting the milkers in. You need to walk paddocks every couple of days at the moment, because growth rates are flying, and if the predicted warm temperatures come we can expect even higher growth rates.
Already some are reporting growth rates over 60kg per day, which is quite exceptional for this time of the year. Many other years we would have to scrape into the second round, with cold wind and rain and low growth rates.
There is a good bit of grass on most farms - see Grass+.
Many have skipped over a few paddocks, but have yet to make a decision on what to do with them. If growth continues and stocking rate is high, they will whip them out next week for mid-April round bales. If growth slows a bit and they are not heavily stocked, many will top up with more nitrogen and stop them for early to mid-May silage.
Be very careful of grazing very low covers. At the very least you would like to see a cover of 1,200kg in a paddock before letting the milkers in. You need to walk paddocks every couple of days at the moment, because growth rates are flying, and if the predicted warm temperatures come we can expect even higher growth rates.
Already some are reporting growth rates over 60kg per day, which is quite exceptional for this time of the year. Many other years we would have to scrape into the second round, with cold wind and rain and low growth rates.
Dairygold chief executive Jim Woulfe has said Ireland's dairy industry must maintain top milk quality to remain a leader in the$44bn global infant formula market.
Aidan Brennan looks at the weather conditions on farms and how this affects grazing plans.
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