A certain level of expectation among farmers following a wet February leading in to a dry March has failed to have been met of late.

With two thirds of March nearly past us, there has been little opportunity to get cattle to grass in many parts of the country, even in counties in the east that would normally have cattle out for a number of weeks at this stage.

An improved forecast with little rain and some warmer weather is forecast for the week ahead. Suckler farmers in the depths of calving are running a risk of disease build up in sheds as space becomes tight, so offloading some cows and older calves to grass, even by day, will help ease the pressure.

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Many farms (my own included) are also yet to spread any fertiliser. The coming days as mentioned should be drier and give an opportunity to get some fertiliser out and kick growth forward. If ground conditions are too challenging, then spreading is not the answer and fertiliser applications should be held off. Where ground is trafficable, then 20-22 units N/acre can be applied and results should be relatively good.

Beef farmers

Shane McGuinness – Newford Farm, Co Roscommon

Much of the stock we turned out three weeks ago came back in last Thursday, bar the replacement heifers which stayed out.

Thankfully, we are back turning out stock again today (Wednesday) with yearling bullocks, yearling heifers and the majority of our suckler cows and calves heading back out to paddocks.

We have 73 cows with calves grazing in two batches while there is just six cows left to calve.

System Suckler to beef

Soil type Variable

Farm cover (kg/DM/ha) 835

Growth (kg/DM/ha/day) 7

Demand (kg/DM/ha/day) 11

Mark Maxwell – Ballinagore, Co Westmeath

We had heavy rain again last night, and ground is quite tender. We do have some cows and calves turned out on some of the drier, more sheltered fields here at home and they are doing well. They are grazing covers 9-10cm high. We are hoping to turn out some more cattle on the outfarm, namely store bullocks and weanlings (a mix of dairy beef and suckler stock). Grazing ground will receive 1 bag/acre of CAN + S in the coming days, while slurry has gone out sporadically to kept tanks lowered.

System Suckler to beef

Soil type Variable

Farm cover (kg/DM/ha) 1,204

Growth (kg/DM/ha/day) 11

Demand (kg/DM/ha/day) 7

Ken Gill – Clonbollogue, Co Offaly

We are slightly behind in getting cattle out and weaning calves owing to a herd test, but it’s not a big deal as ground conditions are only so-so. Hopefully we will get weanlings out next week and store cattle shortly after them.

Weanlings are continuing to graze by day in paddocks close to the yard. It is still planned to get these out on stubble ground before ploughing for oats and sowing in early April

Silage stocks are on the low side but we should have enough to carry us through.

System Organic suckler to beef

Soil type Variable

Farm cover (kg/DM/ha) 472

Growth (kg/DM/ha/day) 15

Demand (kg/DM/ha/day) 5