This growth is phenomenal, especially considering the record growth that we’ve had over the past few weeks. To put the growth in context, an average 100 acre farm has grown about 80t of grass over the past three weeks while 100 cows would only have eaten about 36t of grass over this time.Grass growth over the last week was driven on by heavy thunderstorms at the weekend but parts of the east and south that missed the thundershowers are beginning to see a reduction in growth. The forecast is for the good weather to last until Sunday, with rain moving in across the country on Sunday and Monday but drier weather to come back for most of next week.
This growth is phenomenal, especially considering the record growth that we’ve had over the past few weeks. To put the growth in context, an average 100 acre farm has grown about 80t of grass over the past three weeks while 100 cows would only have eaten about 36t of grass over this time.
Grass growth over the last week was driven on by heavy thunderstorms at the weekend but parts of the east and south that missed the thundershowers are beginning to see a reduction in growth. The forecast is for the good weather to last until Sunday, with rain moving in across the country on Sunday and Monday but drier weather to come back for most of next week.
Walk the farm today and find out how much grass you have on the farm per cow. This is the average farm cover divided by the stocking rate. Ideally, it should be between 140 and 180kg/cow at this time. Most farms are way over this now so bring it back by taking out paddocks for bale silage. These paddocks should be cut immediately and baled up before the rain on Sunday. There could be an opportunity to get slurry out on these paddocks before the rain too.
From a distance, grass quality appears to be holding up pretty well, but walk through any high cover and check the amount of stem at the base – 6in of white stem in many cases. It might be necessary to re-calibrate our eyes into what an ideal grass cover is. The target is 1,300 to 1,600kg of a pre-grazing yield which to the eye is actually quite low. Cut and weigh a few paddocks or use a platemeter to check pre-grazing yields because there is a high chance that we have forgotten about what an appropriate pre-grazing cover is.
Excellent growth rates continue as heat and moisture drive growth.Set average farm cover at between 140 and 180kg per cow.Take out surplus paddocks before the weather changes early next week.Re-calibrate your eye into what an ideal pre-grazing cover is.Teagasc Curtins Farm
Stocking rate (cows/ha) 4.13
Growth rate (kg/day) 74
Average farm cover (kg/ha) 546
Yield (l/cow/day) 22
Fat % 4.53
Protein % 3.58
Milk solids (kg/cow) 1.84
Supplement fed (kg/cow/day) 0.2
Stocking rate has reduced this week as some silage was cut last week so it is now down to 4.13 cows/ha. Although cover/cow is low at 132, we expect cover to pick up as we have reduced demand to 70 and the remaining silage ground will be cut before the weekend so the demand will drop again then.
With the large burst of growth over the past few weeks, we have had to graze some high covers of around 2,200kg and this has reduced milk yield a bit.
We are spreading 27 units of sulpha CAN/acre after each grazing.
Teagasc Ballyhaise
Stocking rate (cows/ha) 4.32
Growth rate (kg/day) 73
Average farm cover (kg/ha) 555
Yield (l/cow/day) 24.3
Fat % 4.41
Protein % 3.55
Milk solids (kg/cow) 1.99
Supplement fed (kg/cow/day) 1
Grass growth is still going well here. We skipped over one more paddock for silage this week so stocking rate is now 4.32 cows/ha. We reduced meal from 2kg to 1kg and rotation length is now set at 18 days.
Demand is 69kg and growth is 73kg. With a bit of rain forecast over the weekend I think the high growth rates will continue here for another bit.
Yield is holding up very well at 1.99kg of solids per cow per day. Pre-grazing yield is at 1,300kg, so grass quality is excellent.
Strokestown, Co Roscommon
Stocking rate (cows/ha) 4.15
Growth rate (kg/day) 87
Average farm cover (kg/ha) 703
Yield (l/cow/day) 27
Fat % 3.80
Protein % 3.37
Milk solids (kg/cow) 1.99
Supplement fed (kg/cow/day) 2.5
Grass has been bombing it here for the past three weeks. It’s been hard to keep on top of it. We have three lots of bales taken and while the quantity of bales per acre has been low, it’s the best way to maintain quality. The cows are now grazing after-grass from the first lot of bales taken. Between ground closed for silage and land out for reseeding, stocking rate is 4.15 cows/ha. I reseeded a field with Abergain two weeks ago and it is beginning to appear now. I’ve changed around the layout of paddocks over the past few months and put in a new roadway which has improved access and made grazing in wet weather much easier.
Manorcunningham, Donegal
Stocking rate (cows/ha) 4.22
Growth rate (kg/day) 94
Average farm cover (kg/ha) 828
Yield (l/cow/day) 27
Fat % 4.0
Protein % 3.41
Milk solids (kg/cow) 2.06
Supplement fed (kg/cow/day) 1
We cut out paddocks for bales on Tuesday and we cut the pit silage yesterday. Like everyone else, we’ve been struggling to keep on top of the high grass growth rates, so pre-grazing yields did get a bit strong and this affected protein percent. Cows are milking well; we dropped the meal back to 1kg last week, and had been feeding 2kg per day. Breeding is going well and we are now into our third week of breeding. The plan is to do AI for six weeks but we will probably only do another week or so of dairy AI and then switch to beef AI before letting off the bull. We had the heifers on the milking block for AI but they are now back on the out-farm.
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Grass+ beef: Silage and surplus paddocks being cut
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