Very wet weather is dictating grazing decisions on farms.
Up to Tuesday, the quantity of rain that fell was not spectacularly high in most places, but the way in which it came – constant mist and drizzle – meant that land got no respite and those on heavy land began to suffer.
Widespread heavy rain on Tuesday night forced many herds on marginal land indoors.
Drier land has challenges too
Farmers in drier parts have their own challenges.
Clean-outs are suffering and cows are unsettled so grazing is best described as messy but at least cows are staying out.
Despite the rain, growth rates are holding up well with an average of 68kg/day recorded, much greater than the 10-year average of 43kg/day.
With the weather so unfavourable, talking about average farm cover targets is almost secondary. The target for now should be to keep cows out at grass, avoid poaching and get as good a clean-out as possible.
Farm cover
Average farm cover should be at peak now, of between 1,100kg and 1,200kg/ha.
This means that the highest covers on the farm are 2,200 to 2,400kg/ha.
If ground is wet, skip out of these paddocks and graze lighter covers that are easier to graze and thus reduce the risk of poaching.
Every farm should be using 12-hour wires now.
These are necessary to avoid poaching, increase utilisation in high covers and ensure the rotation length is hitting 35 days.
With poor clean-outs, rotation length can speed up and before you know it a grass surplus can quickly become a grass deficit.
Last days for spreading fertiliser
Finally, these are the last days for spreading fertiliser. Improvement in the weather is forecast so there should be an opportunity to get fertiliser spread before the closing date.
I see nitrogen at this time of year as a bit like anti-freeze – it will keep high covers fresh and green for longer.
Teagasc Curtins Farm
Stocking rate (cows/ha) 2.76
Growth rate (kg/day) 47
Average farm cover (kg/ha) 701
Yield (l/cow/day) 16.3
Fat % 5.14
Protein % 3.93
Milk solids (kg/cow) 1.52
Supplement fed (kg/cow/day) 2
Average farm cover dropped well below target for this week (960kg/ha). The actual is 701kg so we have reduced demand and supplemented with 2kg of concentrate to slow things down.
The reseed was grazed last week and is looking really good. Growth was back on average about 10kg compared to our normal average. Rotation length is set at 32 days. We are blanket-spreading the farm with 30 units/acre of urea this week before the closing date. Somatic cell count is 105,000.
Teagasc Ballyhaise
Stocking rate (cows/ha) 3.06
Growth rate (kg/day) 70
Average farm cover (kg/ha) 1,200
Yield (l/cow/day) 14.85
Fat % 4.88
Protein % 3.94
Milk solids (kg/cow) 1.34
Supplement fed (kg/cow/day) 2
Land has got very wet here. We were struggling away fairly OK but Tuesday’s rain really put a knife in it. Cows are still out grazing but residuals have increased and some damage is being done.
Cows are on 12-hour breaks. I was tempted to leave them in on Wednesday but they did go out. We have increased meal to 2kg/hd. Solids are holding well which is good.
We scanned the herd and 9% are empty after 12 weeks of breeding, with 75% in-calf in the first six weeks of breeding, so I’m happy enough with that.
Bandon, Co Cork
Stocking rate (cows/ha) 2.75
Growth rate (kg/day) 85
Average farm cover (kg/ha) 969
Yield (l/cow/day) 19.8
Fat % 4.34
Protein % 3.79
Milk solids (kg/cow) 1.66
Supplement fed (kg/cow/day) 1.5
While we have been getting a lot of rain, most of the farm here is well able to take it. We’ve skipped out of the heavier parts and are grazing the drier parts. Average farm cover is slightly below target but growth rates are good so we should build up fast. Pre-grazing yields are around 2,000kg.
The plan is to blanket-spread the whole farm with muriate of potash in late September. Rotation length is 32 days. The farm has grown 12.24t/ha to date so we should finish up with close to 15t/ha grown by the end of the year.
Tulla, Co Clare
Stocking rate (cows/ha) 4.79
Growth rate (kg/day) 103
Average farm cover (kg/ha) 719
Yield (l/cow/day) 14.17
Fat % 4.89
Protein % 3.75
Milk solids (kg/cow) 1.26
Supplement fed (kg/cow/day) 3
Average farm cover is a bit lower than I’d like but I am currently grazing land away from the main milking block. This will reduce demand so I should build up cover quickly as growth rates are excellent.
Ground conditions are just about OK. I’m giving a fresh break to all stock every 12 hours and picking and choosing the paddocks that they are grazing. I’m going to introduce bale silage and up the meal soon to reduce demand. I’m also going to sell the cull cows in the next fortnight which will help to reduce demand as stocking rate is high.
