Average farm cover per cow is currently sitting above target for the time of year at 209kg DM/LU. Growth is outpacing demand by 11kg DM/day, and pre-grazing yields are creeping higher than ideal at 1,514kg DM/ha.
Most farms have surplus grass, and many are waiting on a few dry days to get second-cut silage sorted.
However, grass supply is more challenging in some southern and southeastern areas, where a number of farms are struggling to hit target covers due to the ongoing dry spell and a 40mm moisture deficit in parts.
Where surplus grass is available, there’s a real chance now to tidy up paddocks and take out bales.
This helps maintain quality, reduces reliance on meal, and banks high-quality silage for when it’s really needed.
There’s little point feeding high levels of concentrates when surplus grass is going to waste or cows are grazing poor-quality covers.
Feeding extra meal is often a response to poor grass – better to clean up paddocks and graze high-quality leafy grass instead.
July is a key month to reset paddocks and tackle any stemmy, poor-quality grass before we begin building covers for the autumn.
Dry matter and fertiliser
Dry matter is varying widely: Moorepark is recording around 22% DM, while Athenry is down at 13% due to wetter conditions.
We’re now halfway through the grazing season. Grass growth is ahead of last year and the five-year average, with about 6t DM/ha on average grown so far.
It’s a good time to review fertiliser use. Aim to have 50 units N/acre left: 20 units in July, and the remaining 30 split across August and September. Also take stock of slurry – it can be valuable on clover paddocks where chemical N may be reduced.
Swardwatch
Walk your second cut of silage and see if it can be cut this week to allow the possibility of a reasonable third cut.Continue to walk your farm every five days, average farm cover cannot afford to drop at this stage. If farm cover is above target, it gives you a great opportunity to correct grass quality before grass is built up for the autumn.Shane Hegarty, Craanlusky, Co Carlow
Grass quality is holding well, helped by strong growth since early May. This kept our cover per cow low, so pre-grazing yields never ran ahead of us. Only a small number of paddocks needed pre-mowing or topping.
Cows are being followed with 18-6-12 for the next round. About 45% of the platform has good clover content, so we’re cutting back nitrogen where clover is adequate. Making use of some soiled water that is in the yard.
AI started on 6 May, so we’re now into week 10. Repeat rates look low based on collar data, which is encouraging. We’ll continue breeding for another week or two before finishing up.
Stocking Rate (cow/ha):3.44
Growth Rate (kg/day):90
Average Farm Cover (kg/cow):176
Yield (l/cow):22.7
Fat% :-4.69
Protein%:3.77
Milk Solids (kg/cow):1.98
Concentrates:2.5
Danny, Bermingham, Doonbeg, Co Clare
Ground conditions have been poor over the past week to 10 days. We got 15mm of rain last Monday, followed by more during a thunderstorm the next day. Cows have been a bit unsettled, but the forecast looks more settled this week, which should help them and give us a chance to get the second cut knocked.
We’re about 1.5 tonnes DM/ha ahead of last year, thanks to the excellent spring. Cows are being followed with 20 units of 38% protected urea plus sulphur.
We hit 90% submission in the first three weeks, with low repeats so far. Collars and a vasectomised bull are helping to detect activity.
Stocking Rate (cow/ha):2.65
Growth Rate (kg/ha):71
Average Farm Cover (kg/cow):214
Yield (l/cow):21
Fat%:4.51
Protein%:3.75
Milk Solids (kg/cow):1.79
Concentrates:3
John Condon, Mitchelstown, Co Cork
Grass growth has dropped off in the last two weeks, now sitting in the mid to high 40s. There’s been very little rain, and none in the forecast for the coming week. Recovery on grazed paddocks is starting to stall. We’ve the option to zero graze some out-block paddocks if pressure comes on.
Cows are milking well – we’re running 30 fewer cows on the platform this year, yet milk volume is holding steady.
One bull came back from the contract rearer last week and is running with the herd. He’s not looking too busy, but time will tell. We’re scanning today to identify any cow with a dead embryo.
Stocking Rate (cow/ha):2.89
Growth Rate (kg/ha):49
Average Farm Cover (kg/cow):237
Yield (l/cow):25.6
Fat%:4.36
Protein%:3.82
Milk Solids (kg/cow):2.15
Concentrates:4
Average farm cover per cow is currently sitting above target for the time of year at 209kg DM/LU. Growth is outpacing demand by 11kg DM/day, and pre-grazing yields are creeping higher than ideal at 1,514kg DM/ha.
Most farms have surplus grass, and many are waiting on a few dry days to get second-cut silage sorted.
However, grass supply is more challenging in some southern and southeastern areas, where a number of farms are struggling to hit target covers due to the ongoing dry spell and a 40mm moisture deficit in parts.
Where surplus grass is available, there’s a real chance now to tidy up paddocks and take out bales.
This helps maintain quality, reduces reliance on meal, and banks high-quality silage for when it’s really needed.
There’s little point feeding high levels of concentrates when surplus grass is going to waste or cows are grazing poor-quality covers.
Feeding extra meal is often a response to poor grass – better to clean up paddocks and graze high-quality leafy grass instead.
July is a key month to reset paddocks and tackle any stemmy, poor-quality grass before we begin building covers for the autumn.
Dry matter and fertiliser
Dry matter is varying widely: Moorepark is recording around 22% DM, while Athenry is down at 13% due to wetter conditions.
We’re now halfway through the grazing season. Grass growth is ahead of last year and the five-year average, with about 6t DM/ha on average grown so far.
It’s a good time to review fertiliser use. Aim to have 50 units N/acre left: 20 units in July, and the remaining 30 split across August and September. Also take stock of slurry – it can be valuable on clover paddocks where chemical N may be reduced.
Swardwatch
Walk your second cut of silage and see if it can be cut this week to allow the possibility of a reasonable third cut.Continue to walk your farm every five days, average farm cover cannot afford to drop at this stage. If farm cover is above target, it gives you a great opportunity to correct grass quality before grass is built up for the autumn.Shane Hegarty, Craanlusky, Co Carlow
Grass quality is holding well, helped by strong growth since early May. This kept our cover per cow low, so pre-grazing yields never ran ahead of us. Only a small number of paddocks needed pre-mowing or topping.
Cows are being followed with 18-6-12 for the next round. About 45% of the platform has good clover content, so we’re cutting back nitrogen where clover is adequate. Making use of some soiled water that is in the yard.
AI started on 6 May, so we’re now into week 10. Repeat rates look low based on collar data, which is encouraging. We’ll continue breeding for another week or two before finishing up.
Stocking Rate (cow/ha):3.44
Growth Rate (kg/day):90
Average Farm Cover (kg/cow):176
Yield (l/cow):22.7
Fat% :-4.69
Protein%:3.77
Milk Solids (kg/cow):1.98
Concentrates:2.5
Danny, Bermingham, Doonbeg, Co Clare
Ground conditions have been poor over the past week to 10 days. We got 15mm of rain last Monday, followed by more during a thunderstorm the next day. Cows have been a bit unsettled, but the forecast looks more settled this week, which should help them and give us a chance to get the second cut knocked.
We’re about 1.5 tonnes DM/ha ahead of last year, thanks to the excellent spring. Cows are being followed with 20 units of 38% protected urea plus sulphur.
We hit 90% submission in the first three weeks, with low repeats so far. Collars and a vasectomised bull are helping to detect activity.
Stocking Rate (cow/ha):2.65
Growth Rate (kg/ha):71
Average Farm Cover (kg/cow):214
Yield (l/cow):21
Fat%:4.51
Protein%:3.75
Milk Solids (kg/cow):1.79
Concentrates:3
John Condon, Mitchelstown, Co Cork
Grass growth has dropped off in the last two weeks, now sitting in the mid to high 40s. There’s been very little rain, and none in the forecast for the coming week. Recovery on grazed paddocks is starting to stall. We’ve the option to zero graze some out-block paddocks if pressure comes on.
Cows are milking well – we’re running 30 fewer cows on the platform this year, yet milk volume is holding steady.
One bull came back from the contract rearer last week and is running with the herd. He’s not looking too busy, but time will tell. We’re scanning today to identify any cow with a dead embryo.
Stocking Rate (cow/ha):2.89
Growth Rate (kg/ha):49
Average Farm Cover (kg/cow):237
Yield (l/cow):25.6
Fat%:4.36
Protein%:3.82
Milk Solids (kg/cow):2.15
Concentrates:4
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