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The second rotation hasn’t started and growth rate is picking up nicely.
In the last week, growth rate has increased as the relatively dry days and sunshine on well-managed swards are delivering.
The last grass cover estimate (1 April) showed a growth rate of 48kg/day, up from 23kg/day and a farm cover of 986kg up from 867kg the week previously.
The second round hasn’t started yet and there is a cover of about 1,000kg to 1,100kg on the first paddocks grazed in early February.
First round
The cows are going into covers over 2,500kg on the last few paddocks now in the first round. There is one paddock with a cover close to 3,000kg.
Protein percentage for the last week has been around 3.53% and fat percentage is about 4.40%. For the first week in April last year, the protein actually dipped to 3.20% as grass was very scarce.
The opposite is the case for most farmers this year as the hungry week between the first and second round didn’t happen and we see the unusual scenario of surplus late March bales on many farms.
SCC
Somatic cell count is down around 180,000 SCC mark as David and Niall continue to work with the herd to keep SCC under control.
At the moment, there are 260 cows going into the tank. The last protein (2 April) was 3.56% up from 3.48% protein and 4.33% fat down from 4.56% fat. The herd are getting just short of 3kg per cow of nuts in the parlour and plenty of grass.
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