Water availability has varied considerably between counties in recent weeks.
Last week’s temperatures exceeded optimal levels for grass growth in the south and east.
This, combined with already limited water availability and a continued lack of rainfall, led to reduced growth rates – evident in the worst-affected farms which have seen the grass turning brown and yellow.
Although a reasonable amount of rainfall has fallen since Sunday night, it has been hit or miss, with some farms getting a fair share and neighbouring farms just missing out.
So certain farms in these regions may continue to experience dryness despite some improvement in overall water supply.
It is being reported that two-thirds of the cows’ diet in the worst-hit farms are being supplemented with meal and silage with grass making up the remaining part.
If adequate rain doesn’t fall some level of feeding will be required for the average farm cover to recuperate.
For now, the goal should be to maintain a grazing rotation of around 25 days until conditions improve.
In the west and north, moisture levels have remained relatively good – indeed too good in parts with areas that were hit with thundery downpours seeing ground conditions becoming very challenging.
On a positive note, the heat of last week has led to surplus grass being grown on some farms. This provided a great opportunity to bank a lot in the form of bales and pit silage for times when it becomes challenging to get cows out.
Looking ahead, the weather forecast is generally positive for grass growth, with temperatures returning to optimal levels and a balanced mix of sunshine, showers, and rainfall expected.
On wetter farms allocate grass in 12-hour strips and back fence to prevent cows damaging grazed swardsOn drier farms rain has arrived, but heavy feeding must continue to give cover a chance to buildIf short on grass, consider scanning now to identify culls to sell or drying off low yielding cows as a means of reducing the demand for feed David Fennelly – Emo, Co Laois
We were starting to see drought stress on some paddocks, but the rain has arrived just in time. Farm cover has dropped to 520kg DM/ha, so we might increase meal to help rebuild covers.
Over the past two rotations, we corrected most of the platform with pre-mowing, topping, and removing surplus grass. Most of the second-cut silage was completed early in the month, with the rest finished last week. Cows are being followed with 18 units of 38% protected urea plus sulphur. We’re going to finish AI at the end of the week.
Data is suggesting good conception rates.
Stocking Rate (cow/ha) 2.91
Growth Rate (kg/day) 49
Average Farm Cover (kg/cow) 178
Yield (l/cow) 22.9
Fat% 4.4
Protein% 3.65
Milk Solids (kg/cow) 1.9
Concentrates 3
Michael Quigley – Kildangan, Co Tipperary
Grass growth has been exceptional this year, making it tough to stay on top of it. We took off a lot of surplus in the last round and plan to take out more ground for reseeding.
Pre-grazing yields are running 100–200 kg DM/ha above target. Grass seed is going in tomorrow, with another paddock to be sprayed off this week, plus some rape going in for the milkers to graze in December.
Cows are being followed with a half a bag of 38% protected urea with sulphur. Early scanning showed 52% of cows held to first service with sexed semen, 76% after second. Bulls come out this weekend after 11 weeks.
Stocking Rate (cow/ha) 3.35
Growth Rate (kg/day) 73
Average Farm Cover (kg/cow) 229
Yield (l/cow) 22
Fat% 5.11
Protein% 3.72
Milk Solids (kg/cow) 2
Concentrates 1.5
Peter Blessing – Ardcroney, Co Tipperary
Milk yield is up 30% compared to this time last year. We’ve been grazing covers around 1,500 kg DM/ha, but the next few paddocks are lighter at 1100 kg DM/ha.
Grass quality is good, with most paddocks tidied up in recent rounds. Cows are being followed with a bag of 29-0-14 plus sulphur after grazing. Second cut was mowed two weeks ago, and those paddocks will come back into the rotation next week. We’ve 52 acres closed for third cut and plan to sow 28 acres of kale next week. Breeding is nearly wrapped up with 11 weeks done. We used 200 sexed dairy straws, and Charolais, Belgian Blue, and Angus bulls.
Stocking Rate (cow/ha) 2.97
Growth Rate (kg/day) 76
Average Farm Cover (kg/cow) 175
Yield (l/cow) 21.5
Fat% 4.57
Protein% 3.75
Milk Solids (kg/cow) 1.84
Concentrates 2
Water availability has varied considerably between counties in recent weeks.
Last week’s temperatures exceeded optimal levels for grass growth in the south and east.
This, combined with already limited water availability and a continued lack of rainfall, led to reduced growth rates – evident in the worst-affected farms which have seen the grass turning brown and yellow.
Although a reasonable amount of rainfall has fallen since Sunday night, it has been hit or miss, with some farms getting a fair share and neighbouring farms just missing out.
So certain farms in these regions may continue to experience dryness despite some improvement in overall water supply.
It is being reported that two-thirds of the cows’ diet in the worst-hit farms are being supplemented with meal and silage with grass making up the remaining part.
If adequate rain doesn’t fall some level of feeding will be required for the average farm cover to recuperate.
For now, the goal should be to maintain a grazing rotation of around 25 days until conditions improve.
In the west and north, moisture levels have remained relatively good – indeed too good in parts with areas that were hit with thundery downpours seeing ground conditions becoming very challenging.
On a positive note, the heat of last week has led to surplus grass being grown on some farms. This provided a great opportunity to bank a lot in the form of bales and pit silage for times when it becomes challenging to get cows out.
Looking ahead, the weather forecast is generally positive for grass growth, with temperatures returning to optimal levels and a balanced mix of sunshine, showers, and rainfall expected.
On wetter farms allocate grass in 12-hour strips and back fence to prevent cows damaging grazed swardsOn drier farms rain has arrived, but heavy feeding must continue to give cover a chance to buildIf short on grass, consider scanning now to identify culls to sell or drying off low yielding cows as a means of reducing the demand for feed David Fennelly – Emo, Co Laois
We were starting to see drought stress on some paddocks, but the rain has arrived just in time. Farm cover has dropped to 520kg DM/ha, so we might increase meal to help rebuild covers.
Over the past two rotations, we corrected most of the platform with pre-mowing, topping, and removing surplus grass. Most of the second-cut silage was completed early in the month, with the rest finished last week. Cows are being followed with 18 units of 38% protected urea plus sulphur. We’re going to finish AI at the end of the week.
Data is suggesting good conception rates.
Stocking Rate (cow/ha) 2.91
Growth Rate (kg/day) 49
Average Farm Cover (kg/cow) 178
Yield (l/cow) 22.9
Fat% 4.4
Protein% 3.65
Milk Solids (kg/cow) 1.9
Concentrates 3
Michael Quigley – Kildangan, Co Tipperary
Grass growth has been exceptional this year, making it tough to stay on top of it. We took off a lot of surplus in the last round and plan to take out more ground for reseeding.
Pre-grazing yields are running 100–200 kg DM/ha above target. Grass seed is going in tomorrow, with another paddock to be sprayed off this week, plus some rape going in for the milkers to graze in December.
Cows are being followed with a half a bag of 38% protected urea with sulphur. Early scanning showed 52% of cows held to first service with sexed semen, 76% after second. Bulls come out this weekend after 11 weeks.
Stocking Rate (cow/ha) 3.35
Growth Rate (kg/day) 73
Average Farm Cover (kg/cow) 229
Yield (l/cow) 22
Fat% 5.11
Protein% 3.72
Milk Solids (kg/cow) 2
Concentrates 1.5
Peter Blessing – Ardcroney, Co Tipperary
Milk yield is up 30% compared to this time last year. We’ve been grazing covers around 1,500 kg DM/ha, but the next few paddocks are lighter at 1100 kg DM/ha.
Grass quality is good, with most paddocks tidied up in recent rounds. Cows are being followed with a bag of 29-0-14 plus sulphur after grazing. Second cut was mowed two weeks ago, and those paddocks will come back into the rotation next week. We’ve 52 acres closed for third cut and plan to sow 28 acres of kale next week. Breeding is nearly wrapped up with 11 weeks done. We used 200 sexed dairy straws, and Charolais, Belgian Blue, and Angus bulls.
Stocking Rate (cow/ha) 2.97
Growth Rate (kg/day) 76
Average Farm Cover (kg/cow) 175
Yield (l/cow) 21.5
Fat% 4.57
Protein% 3.75
Milk Solids (kg/cow) 1.84
Concentrates 2
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