Grazing advice: Act now as key actions need to be taken
After a testing year thus far for grass growth, Teagasc Grass10 Advisor, Niamh Doyle gives an update on the current grass situation, providing management tips for the coming weeks. on this week’s Beef Edge podcast hosted by Catherine Egan and OviCast podcast hosted by Ciaran Lynch.
With 2024 being less than an ideal year for grass growth, bringing with it poor utilisation and lower grass quality, Niamh touches on the many factors that have limited grass growth. Such variables include: lower temperatures, especially at night; hash winds; high rainfall; and high levels of poaching due to the wet spring.
“From PastureBase Ireland data to date, growth is 0.75t DM/ha lower by this time of the year when we look at the five year average.”
Niamh also commented that the long-term nitrogen (N) fertiliser type trial at Teagasc, Johnstown Castle provides an insight as to how different fertiliser types/formulations have performed under the same conditions, and with N applied at the same time at the same rate. Overall total grass dry matter yield to date was similar across fertiliser nitrogen products. At farm level, there has been a higher response to compound fertiliser and slurry.
Key actions
Completing a fodder budget, walking the farm now and applying fertiliser are the key tips farmers need to keep in mind in the coming weeks. The current target is to extend the grazing season by acting now, completing an assessment and prioritising the key actions in order to build grass covers.
While growth rate has increased in the past 10 days, farm covers are low and grass on some farms is tight. Scanning cows early to identify any empties and drafting cull ewes were highlighted as actions drystock farms could take to reduce grass demand.
Moving animals on to finishing diets early was also discussed. Niamh reminded farmers that 10 animals weighing 500kg each will eat a bale of silage every two days, thus showing why reducing demand on farm is important.
“It’s important to weigh now and pick out animals that can be prioritised for finishing which will reduce farm demand,” Niamh advised.
Introducing creep to lambs and weanlings would also help lower demand on the farm.
“Lambs on some farms at the moment are light, and they will be carried for a longer period of time which will extend the demand on the farm longer,” Niamh cautioned.
Building autumn grass covers
Coming into August, it is important to focus on building grass covers as growth will begin to decline. Having a plan and applying fertiliser in early August – when the response is good and an allowance is available – will help build autumn grass covers and may allow surplus grass to be removed if fodder is needed.
Key steps:
- Supplementing now will help reduce farm demand.
- Splitting the farm into paddocks at this time of year will increase the rest period on paddocks.
- Avoid grazing low covers and keeping rotation length to 30 days will aid building covers.
Silage
Second-cut silage should be cut when ready to avoid reducing silage quality. It is important to target slurry that has yet to be spread to these paddocks, as per the farm Nutrient Management Plan, and to ensure tanks are emptied and P and K is applied where needed.
“Every four bales per acre should be replenished with 1,000 gallons of slurry per acre,” Niamh advised.
Monthly beef and sheep grassland advice
Going forward and in addition to the weekly Grass10 Newsletter, Niamh will complete a monthly podcast, released through the Beef Edge and OviCast platforms, which will feature a grass update for beef and sheep farms and key management tips for the weeks ahead.
Subscribe to the Grass10 newsletter here.
Listen into this week's episode of the Beef Edge podcast featuring Niamh Doyle below:
Listen into this week's episode of the OviCast podcast, where Niamh Doyle shares more key grazing tips to sheep farmers: