Grass+ beef: Silage and surplus paddocks being cut

Grass growth rates have remained high again in the past week, with several farmers recording a growth rate of up to 100kgDM/ha.

The current focus remains on trying to keep control of grass quality, while at the same time getting silage and other field work carried out. It is important not to get distracted by other work and to keep an eye on grassland management.

The farmers in the programme are continuing to walk the farm once a week. In some cases, farmers are opting to walk the platform twice in order to budget grass more carefully; where this is taking place, it is heavily stocked farmers who are doing so.

The current predicament is fertiliser. With strong grass growth rates continuing, there is a tendency for farmers to lay off fertiliser input. In some cases where there was regular fertiliser input in the spring, there may be enough residual nitrogen available to grass to keep growth rates up while easing on application.

However, on farms that are lesser stocked or where there has not been a regular nitrogen input, then fertiliser will be required to avoid grass becoming stressed and heading out.

A nitrogen input of 15 to 20 units will help to keep grass vegetative and growing. At this stage, those on light land should also be looking out for signs of swards low in sulphur. An easy way to tell is to split a fertiliser application in a field with a sulphur-based fertiliser on one side and a fertiliser without sulphur on the other. If there is a contrast in grass colour in a few weeks then grass may be suffering from a sulphur deficiency.

Surplus

The majority of farmers in the programme are currently taking out surplus paddocks in order to shorten the rotation and keep a strong focus on quality regrowths. Remember that taking out surplus paddocks quickly will help to ensure that they rejoin the grazing rotation quickly in a few weeks.

Co Waterford

Farming system Suckler to store

Land type Dry

Growth rate (kg DM/ha) 72

Average farm cover (kg DM/ha) 1,120

Grass growth on the farm in the past few weeks has been very strong. I am currently targeting a pre-grazing sward height of 10cm (1,600kgDM/ha), and as a result I have had to take out two additional paddocks. With grass growth rates so strong, I have stopped spreading fertiliser for the current round. I applied about 80 units/acre so far this year on grazing ground, so I estimate that there is still some residual nitrogen in paddocks. I have cut about eight acres of silage so far. The yield was back, but quality was very good. I still have about 25 acres to be cut in the next few weeks; this will form the main feed for the dry suckler cows over the winter months. So far, the cows are cleaning out paddocks well. However, I have had to graze some slightly stronger paddocks in the past week. By taking out surplus paddocks, I am hoping that this will limit any topping that will have to be done in July. Breeding is going well, with very few repeats so far.

Derrypatrick herd

Farming system Suckler to beef

Land type Dry to heavy

Growth rate (kg DM/ha) 79

Average farm cover (kg DM/ha) 917

Grass growth has continued to be strong. We recorded a growth rate of 79kg DM/ha over the past seven days. Our demand is 68kg DM/ha as a result of taking out some additional paddocks. We are aiming to take out 10 paddocks this week. We cut half of the first-cut silage on Monday last and ensiled it on Tuesday.

The remainder of the first cut will be allowed to bulk up prior to harvest. This will be used to feed dry spring calving cows over the winter months.

We currently have 13 days grazing ahead of stock and the average farm cover is 917kg DM/ha, or 166kg DM/LU. The grazing area is carrying approximately 3,410kg of liveweight per hectare with the silage ground and paddocks out.

We are maintaining a pre-grazing sward height of 1,500-1,600kg DM/ha. We are aiming to kill the first of the U16 month old bulls this week and will weigh all yearlings in the coming week also.

Co Westmeath

Farming system Suckler to weanling

Land type Dry

Growth rate (kg DM/ha) 127

Average farm cover (kg DM/ha) 1,476

Grass growth rates have remained high in the past few weeks. I recorded a growth rate of 127kg DM/ha in the past week. I am considering skipping a round of fertiliser as I have about 80 units out so far on the grazing ground. I haven’t spread any fertiliser in the past two weeks, and will wait another week or two before spreading more. If growth rates start to drop I will look at applying 15-20 units N/acre.

I took out another two paddocks that were going a little strong yesterday. About 30 acres of silage will be harvested in the next week or two – this will be for feeding to dry spring-calving cows over the winter, so quality is not a major issue. I will look at harvesting leafy grass in the second cut along with surplus paddocks in order to have top-quality silage available for feeding to weanlings and stores. I have reseeded about four acres with a hybrid grass with the aim of cutting it three or four times next year.

Co Kerry

Farming system Suckler to Beef

Land type heavy

Growth rate (kg DM/ha)

Average farm cover (kg DM/ha)

Silage was cut and ensiled earlier this week in great conditions. I cut 56% of my farm between main crop and paddocks and put all into the pit. With growth rates so high currently I may cut another 20-30 acres of paddocks for bales in the next two to three weeks to keep grass under control. Quality of silage this year was excellent and having it in a week earlier than usual should increase DMD. I plan to cut another 40 acres for second cut and I will spread 3,000 gallons of cattle slurry followed with 1.5 bags of urea per acre in the next 10 days. I have 10 cows weaned so far and once after-grass comes on I will begin weaning the remaining 90 cows. Those weaned already will be culled and I will feed them inside for the next month. I have 60 bulls finishing under 16 months of age at the moment also and they will go in the next month. Other routine work being carried out is reseeding a grazing paddock and dosing calves for worms along with giving a second shot for blackleg.

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Grass+ dairy: High growth rates continue