No two years are the same, and this seems to be ringing true for 2025 compared to 2024. This time last year, cattle that had been turned out early had to be rehoused due to incessant rainfall, while this year we have seen dry conditions persist for many weeks now.When deciding where to turn out cattle, try and be mindful of the grazing and silage plan for the coming weeks. Silage ground that has a mat of old grass on it is better grazed off for optimum-quality silage come May/early June. Often, these are fields away from the main yard, so targeting these paddocks with some yearling cattle will be best. Should the weather turn wetter, you will get away with these types compared to forward stores or cows for a few extra days, while there should be little damage done that might affect silage contamination with soil.
No two years are the same, and this seems to be ringing true for 2025 compared to 2024. This time last year, cattle that had been turned out early had to be rehoused due to incessant rainfall, while this year we have seen dry conditions persist for many weeks now.
When deciding where to turn out cattle, try and be mindful of the grazing and silage plan for the coming weeks. Silage ground that has a mat of old grass on it is better grazed off for optimum-quality silage come May/early June. Often, these are fields away from the main yard, so targeting these paddocks with some yearling cattle will be best. Should the weather turn wetter, you will get away with these types compared to forward stores or cows for a few extra days, while there should be little damage done that might affect silage contamination with soil.
On the fertiliser front, the warmer weather forecast in the next week should be an encouragement for more urea to get out on to ground. It’s forgivable to not have spread any before now owing to the colder weather and soil temps, but utilisation should be good from here on out, and ground is hungry for nutrients.
Willie Treacy, Hackballscross, Co Louth
We’re busy turning stock out now at the minute, with nearly all the cows and calves and weanlings now at grass. Grazing conditions and cleanouts are excellent.
Some paddocks received some protected urea in the last week, with some slurry to go out on the last of the silage ground in the next few days as well. We will start spreading fertiliser for silage from next week.
System:Suckler to beef
Soil Type:Variable
Farm cover (kg/DM/ha):1,027
Growth (kg/DM/ha/day):11
Demand (kg/DM/ha/day):20
John Dunne, Portarlington, Co Laois
We have most of our silage ground grazed off with cows and calves, with much of this now having received slurry.
The last of the silage ground will be closed up by the end of the month. Three-quarters of the cows have calved to date and are at grass, with the yearling cattle being bloused and turned out today (Wednesday).
System :Suckler to beef
Soil Type:Variable
Farm cover (kg/DM/ha):976
Growth (kg/DM/ha/day):17
Demand (kg/DM/ha/day):36
Mark Maxwell, Ballinagore, Co Westmeath
We have some cattle out to grass for the last fortnight in small batches, with ground conditions being excellent as are graze outs.
We have held off on fertiliser application as I think it is just too cold, but we would hope to get some out in the next week.
System:Suckler to beef
Soil Type:Variable
Farm cover (kg/DM/ha):648
Growth (kg/DM/ha/day):8
Demand (kg/DM/ha/day):6
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