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Growth prospects: As is often the case, the weather can never please everyone. Farmers in the western and northern parts of the country say they have enough rain, while those in the south and east will be looking for more.
There are still soil moisture deficits, but the widespread rain forecast for Friday and the weekend should fix them. Soil temperatures everywhere are two to three degrees higher than normal at between 17 and 19 degrees Celsius.
Soil temperatures are similar to this time last year, which points to a good autumn for grass growth. Growth rates last September and October were way higher than normal. All of the components were there for high growth; heat in the soil, plenty of sunshine and plenty of nutrients available as background nitrogen was released after the dry summer.
While the same level of background nitrogen probably won’t be released this autumn and there are no guarantees of sunshine, we can tell that soil temperatures will be higher.
How much of an increase in growth this will cause, and for how long it will last, will depend on location and weather. On dry ground in low rainfall areas I would expect a good increase, particularly if growth was constrained over the summer. Factor this into autumn budgets.
Calves: Calves with a mature liveweight of 550kg should be at 30% of this weight now, at 165kg. Calves should be on the best quality grass available to ensure they thrive. The next six weeks is a chance to put on cheap weight before the autumn sets in and grass loses its power.
Aftergrass from silage will be coming on stream over the next few weeks and this should be targeted towards the calves.
As always, split out the lightest calves and give these preferential treatment, including one or two kilos of meal.
If bull calves are running with heifers, it’s near time to either castrate or move elsewhere. As for parasite control, keep an eye out for signs of stomach and lungworm. Lungworm seems to be becoming more of an issue, particularly in adult cows and this is being linked to the onset of other diseases.
It’s hard to diagnose lungworm and faecal samples aren’t very reliable, but one of the best indications is a deep, husky cough. Talk to your vet if you think you’ve an issue.
Housing: Over the next few weeks, the Irish Farmers Journal will look at calf housing options on farms. This week, we look at polytunnels being used as calf houses in both Scotland and New Zealand. Both options are lower cost than a traditional steel shed, even when mechanical ventilation costs are included.
The question is where should the extra calf housing be built? Can a win/win agreement be made between dairy and non-dairy farmers to rear calves? This could be on a purchase or a contract-rearing agreement for either male or female calves. The advantage from the dairy side is reduced workload.
The advantage on the rearer side is a regular supply of calves from a known source, and depending on the type of agreement, there could be a guaranteed income like contract rearing. Calf health will be paramount for any agreement to work.
SHARING OPTIONS: