Grass+: great grazing conditions but exercise caution

Grazing conditions have been exceptional to date, but it important not to get carried away with all of March still to come.

Matthew Halpin

27 February 2019

Grass+: great grazing conditions but exercise caution

Grass growth has been climbing steadily for the last three weeks and this week the national average has broken into double-digit figures at 10kg DM/ha/day. Farms in parts of the country are witnessing growth in excess of 20kg DM/ha/day, mainly on ground that has already been grazed. Grazing the plant has the effect of stimulating growth after the dormant period over the winter months. For those implementing a spring grazing planner, it should be running along very smoothly at present. The target for now is to have 30% of the farm grazed by 1 March and a further 30% grazed by St Patrick’s Day. As it stands, plenty of farms are going to achieve this 30% target with some groups of cows and newborn calves and weanlings at grass in most places.

Grass growth has been climbing steadily for the last three weeks and this week the national average has broken into double-digit figures at 10kg DM/ha/day.

Farms in parts of the country are witnessing growth in excess of 20kg DM/ha/day, mainly on ground that has already been grazed. Grazing the plant has the effect of stimulating growth after the dormant period over the winter months. For those implementing a spring grazing planner, it should be running along very smoothly at present. The target for now is to have 30% of the farm grazed by 1 March and a further 30% grazed by St Patrick’s Day. As it stands, plenty of farms are going to achieve this 30% target with some groups of cows and newborn calves and weanlings at grass in most places.

30% target

While I am all for early turnout, it would be naive not to recommend some level of caution with excessive levels of turnout.

The objectives of early grazing can be summarised as follows: to maximise the amount of grass grazed early on the farm while at the same time ensuring there will be enough grass until the start of the second grazing rotation in April.

I think the second point in that objective is critical – ensuring there is enough grass until early April. We all know what type of conditions March treated us to last year and if the same was to come again all the hard work getting stock out now could be in vein.

Because of that, I think it is important to keep the already-mentioned targets in the back of our minds. We only want 60% grazed by St Patrick’s Day.

If you are at risk of running ahead of this target, hold back on letting out more stock until fertiliser kicks in and growth rates pick up. If running too far ahead, be prepared to slow the rotation down slightly with the possible addition of silage or ration to suckling cows being a good bet.

That said, if you are still well behind on 30% of ground grazed this week, you can certainly look towards getting some more out.

Grass+: March of many weathers beckons