Last week growth was well above 30kg DM/ha/day. However, with conditions turning significantly colder and daylight hours continuing to decrease, it has fallen significantly in the last seven days, as predicted. It is now at 23kg DM/ha/day. Ironically, 23kg DM/ha/day was the lowest point to which growth slumped during the peak of the drought. That was 15 weeks ago. Back then, it was a crisis and something that no farm could be prepared for. This time around, it is exactly what we can expect.

Conditions

Ground conditions are remaining very good, with much of the country only receiving 20% of typical rainfall over the last week. Just like growth, soils could come under pressure now too. Met Eireann is forecasting a move away from the cold, dry weather to more unsettled, wet and windy conditions over the weekend. The problem with rain this time of year is that things can turn very quickly - almost overnight. With longer nights, cooler temperatures and decreasing grass quality, it takes very little for cattle to become unsettled.

If this is the case, it is about looking at what stock needs to be housed and what stock can be left to finish the final rotation. It is a balancing act to make sure you only leave out stock that can stay out for a long period to reduce the length of the winter, but you also leave out enough of the right type of stock so that all grass is grazed before closing permanently, particularly where strong covers were built up over the last two months. Store cattle immediately spring to mind here. Weanling and yearling heifers are ideal, followed by store bulls and bullocks.

Be cautious leaving out weanling bulls destined for under 16-month bull beef – you can’t afford to take a hit in performance so monitor closely.

  • 60% of farm should be closed by next week.
  • Average cover/LU should be 300kg DM/ha.
  • Pre-grazing yields should be >2,000kg DM/ha (+11cm).
  • Post-grazing yields should be <250kg DM/ha (<5cm).