The range in average farm covers across the country is between 500 and 700kg/ha. Farmers with a cover of over 700kg/ha need to be careful grass doesn’t get ahead of them. The average demand on farms was 40kg/day this week. Growth rates next week are expected to be closer to 50kg/day and farms will start to build grass.
The range in average farm covers across the country is between 500 and 700kg/ha. Farmers with a cover of over 700kg/ha need to be careful grass doesn’t get ahead of them.
The average demand on farms was 40kg/day this week. Growth rates next week are expected to be closer to 50kg/day and farms will start to build grass.
It’s a good position to be in and monitoring grass weekly from now on is a must.
Some farmers have a cover closer to 500kg/ha. Action needs to be taken on these farms. Slow down cows until grass builds up. Upping the concentrates level for a week may save feeding a lot more over the month. On these farms fertiliser needs to be out to get maximum growth rates.
At this stage everyone should have 90kg N/ha out, with another 35kg N/ha going out before the end of May. If fertiliser hasn’t gone out since early March, it needs to be going again now.
For anyone grazing the second round, it is now time to consider moving to 24-hour or ideally 36-hour grazing.
Cows will only be asked to graze hard every third grazing.
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