Increased sunlight hours, warmer temperatures and improved drying conditions should see growth reach the mid-40s in most areas in the week ahead.
It’s not before time either, as many farms on drier land are now already into the second round, with heavier farms not far behind them.
Despite relatively poor growth rates last week, average farm cover nationally is currently at 820kg DM/ha. There are 26% of dairy farmers with covers over 900kg DM/ha.
Considering farms should be aiming to start the second rotation with a cover of around 650kg DM/ha, it’s surprising to see such high covers.
Heavier farms aiming to start the second round in the coming ten days should be under 750kg DM/ha of a cover by now. If this is not the case, there is no reason to be feeding high levels of meal.
Similarly, on farms that are already into their second round, there is no reason to be feeding high levels of meal where growth is in line with or above demand.
The only farms that should be supplementing with more than 2-3kg of meal are those with high demand, poor growth rates and an average farm cover that’s dropping quickly. It won’t pay to feed anything extra this year with low milk price.
Walking the farm at least weekly is vitally important to keep on top of things now as grass growth starts to lift. In the space of a week things can run out of control very quickly at this time of year.
Fertiliser
P, K and sulphur should start becoming an important consideration when it comes to deciding on the next fertiliser application.
Farms with a P allowance should be looking to use a compound fertiliser with plenty of nitrogen in the next round. A product like 18-6-12 + S for example, at a rate of two bags/acre.
Where there is no P allowance, it’s still important to get K and sulphur out. Sulphur is required at a rate of 15 units/acre and is best spread in three or four different applications.
Walk the farm and asses where supplement levels need to be, depending on cover, growth rates and daily demand.When getting out with the next application of fertiliser, consider using a compound product plus sulphur.Farms planning a spring reseed will soon need to start spraying off. It’s time to get the house in order in this regard.Liam Rochford – Cleariestown, Co Wexford
Grazing was slow to get going this spring, but we have about 90% of the first round finished now and will be looking to start the second round early next week.
Growth is slow though, and the paddocks grazed first only have a cover of about 900kg DM/ha.
We’re watching growth rates closely so we don’t drop much more cover. We have 30 units of nitrogen out on the whole farm and following cows with the second round.
Stocking rate (LU/ha) 2.7
Growth (kg/ha) 36
Average farm cover (kg/ha) 685
Yield (l/cow) 29.5
Fat (%) 4.15
Protein (%) 3.52
Milk solids (kg/cow) 2.33
Concentrates (kg/cow) 5
John McNamara – Knockainey, Co Limerick
We’re about to start the second round here and have most of the first round finished. We skipped a few paddocks and will probably make silage on them but are holding one or two in case we need them early in the next round.
We’re trying to keep meal feeding levels down as much as we can this year, and hence why those covers might be important as a buffer. I’ll be starting to walk the farm twice a week from now on.
Stocking rate (LU/ha) 3.2
Growth (kg/ha) 31
Average farm cover (kg/ha) 734
Yield (l/cow) 27
Fat (%) 4.6
Protein (%) 3.63
Milk solids (kg/cow) 2.29
Concentrates (kg/cow) 2.5
Eoin McCormack – Teagasc Clonakilty, Co Cork
We started the second round this week and they’re going into covers of about 1,500kg DM/ha. Growth is well up over the last week and has come in line with demand.
Any ground that was trafficable back in February and had gotten fertiliser, got another half bag of protected urea in the last couple of weeks.
The rest that hadn’t got anything previously got three-quarters of a bag. We will be planning to go again soon with another round.
Stocking rate (LU/ha) 3.13
Growth (kg/ha) 55
Average farm cover (kg/ha) 824
Yield (l/cow) 24
Fat (%) 4.45
Protein (%) 3.78
Milk solids (kg/cow) 2.03
Concentrates (kg/cow) 3
Increased sunlight hours, warmer temperatures and improved drying conditions should see growth reach the mid-40s in most areas in the week ahead.
It’s not before time either, as many farms on drier land are now already into the second round, with heavier farms not far behind them.
Despite relatively poor growth rates last week, average farm cover nationally is currently at 820kg DM/ha. There are 26% of dairy farmers with covers over 900kg DM/ha.
Considering farms should be aiming to start the second rotation with a cover of around 650kg DM/ha, it’s surprising to see such high covers.
Heavier farms aiming to start the second round in the coming ten days should be under 750kg DM/ha of a cover by now. If this is not the case, there is no reason to be feeding high levels of meal.
Similarly, on farms that are already into their second round, there is no reason to be feeding high levels of meal where growth is in line with or above demand.
The only farms that should be supplementing with more than 2-3kg of meal are those with high demand, poor growth rates and an average farm cover that’s dropping quickly. It won’t pay to feed anything extra this year with low milk price.
Walking the farm at least weekly is vitally important to keep on top of things now as grass growth starts to lift. In the space of a week things can run out of control very quickly at this time of year.
Fertiliser
P, K and sulphur should start becoming an important consideration when it comes to deciding on the next fertiliser application.
Farms with a P allowance should be looking to use a compound fertiliser with plenty of nitrogen in the next round. A product like 18-6-12 + S for example, at a rate of two bags/acre.
Where there is no P allowance, it’s still important to get K and sulphur out. Sulphur is required at a rate of 15 units/acre and is best spread in three or four different applications.
Walk the farm and asses where supplement levels need to be, depending on cover, growth rates and daily demand.When getting out with the next application of fertiliser, consider using a compound product plus sulphur.Farms planning a spring reseed will soon need to start spraying off. It’s time to get the house in order in this regard.Liam Rochford – Cleariestown, Co Wexford
Grazing was slow to get going this spring, but we have about 90% of the first round finished now and will be looking to start the second round early next week.
Growth is slow though, and the paddocks grazed first only have a cover of about 900kg DM/ha.
We’re watching growth rates closely so we don’t drop much more cover. We have 30 units of nitrogen out on the whole farm and following cows with the second round.
Stocking rate (LU/ha) 2.7
Growth (kg/ha) 36
Average farm cover (kg/ha) 685
Yield (l/cow) 29.5
Fat (%) 4.15
Protein (%) 3.52
Milk solids (kg/cow) 2.33
Concentrates (kg/cow) 5
John McNamara – Knockainey, Co Limerick
We’re about to start the second round here and have most of the first round finished. We skipped a few paddocks and will probably make silage on them but are holding one or two in case we need them early in the next round.
We’re trying to keep meal feeding levels down as much as we can this year, and hence why those covers might be important as a buffer. I’ll be starting to walk the farm twice a week from now on.
Stocking rate (LU/ha) 3.2
Growth (kg/ha) 31
Average farm cover (kg/ha) 734
Yield (l/cow) 27
Fat (%) 4.6
Protein (%) 3.63
Milk solids (kg/cow) 2.29
Concentrates (kg/cow) 2.5
Eoin McCormack – Teagasc Clonakilty, Co Cork
We started the second round this week and they’re going into covers of about 1,500kg DM/ha. Growth is well up over the last week and has come in line with demand.
Any ground that was trafficable back in February and had gotten fertiliser, got another half bag of protected urea in the last couple of weeks.
The rest that hadn’t got anything previously got three-quarters of a bag. We will be planning to go again soon with another round.
Stocking rate (LU/ha) 3.13
Growth (kg/ha) 55
Average farm cover (kg/ha) 824
Yield (l/cow) 24
Fat (%) 4.45
Protein (%) 3.78
Milk solids (kg/cow) 2.03
Concentrates (kg/cow) 3
SHARING OPTIONS