Food and Fodder Security for Dairy Farmers

Advice for dairy farmers on ensuring feed security

Keep grass in the milking cow diet and apply N fertiliser

Grazed grass remains by far the best value feed for milking cows and young stock
Aim for 2 grazings a day with the milking herd topped up with moderate concentrate. Use on-off grazing in wet weather
Target end of first rotation by early to mid-April depending on location
Get replacement heifers out to grass to boost growth rates and save silage

Apply fertiliser as soon as possible at least 30 units of Nitrogen (N) per acre
Have 60 units of Nitrogen applied per acre by early April
Check soil samples, low index P & K soils require at least 1.5 bags of 18-6-12 per acre by the end of April (subject to allowances).
Apply lime where required, to release soil P and a possible 64 units of N per acre

Silage is still much cheaper than meal at 20 cents v 44cents per kg dry matter
A 50kg bag of urea/acre (€50-60) can grow 7 tonnes of fresh weight silage
Plan silage requirements for next winter: How much is left in the pits, how much do you have to grow this season?
Ensure to build in a month’s reserve feed
Plan for top quality silage 72 DMD + for younger stock and freshly calved cows
Plan for first cut by end of May at latest- delaying will reduce annual yield and result in poor quality
A few too many cows in summer can cause large deficits in winter- selling 5 cows in April could put an extra 100 tonnes of silage in the pit next winter

Target slurry for silage ground due to its high P and K requirements
First cut silage requires at least 80 units of Nitrogen (N) and Potassium (K) and 16 units of Phosphorous (including slurry).
3,000 gallons of slurry and 1.2 bags of protected urea + 15 units of sulphur (80 units of N) or 3 bags 13 – 6 – 20 and 1 bag pro Urea + 15 units of sulphur (80 units of N)
75% of all silage required should be saved by June
Don’t rely on surplus bales, as you won’t get as many if fertiliser application on grazing area is reduced

Milk record to identify unproductive stock – cull some high cell count cows, lame cows, low producers
Complete a cash flow budget
Speak to your contractor in good time to plan main work for the year
Contact your advisor for help on feed and financial budgeting