Focus turns to fodder budgeting on Teagasc/Tirlán Future Farms
Following a June blighted by variable grass growth rates, July brought about some recovery in grass growth rates on farms enrolled in the Teagasc/Tirlán Future Farm Programme. Now the attention at farm level is turning to fodder budgeting, to ensure sufficient winter feed stocks are available.
Sandra Hayes, Co-Ordinator of the programme, explained: “It is good to see a slight lift in growth, with an average growth rate just under 70kg DM/ha/day - about 15kg DM/ha/day ahead of demand.”
With some of the farmers having completed their second-cut silage and a small amount of reseeding happening, Sandra noted that fodder budgets for the group are being completed and “these will be updated on an ongoing basis for the next 2-3 months.”
The increase in grass growth rates, along with the feeding strategies implemented by the participating farmers over the course of June, has helped to bolster the average farm covers on farm – standing at an average of 670kg DM/ha for the week ending July 12. Back on June 14, the average farm cover on these farms stood at 554kg DM/ha, with the difference between growth and demand only being 2kg DM/ha/day back then and, as a result, some farmers opted to increase meal and introduce silage supplementation.
In terms of meal supplementation for the week of July 12, an average of 4kg/head/day was being offered – 1kg/head/day ahead of the average meal feeding levels witnessed in the same timeframe last year. Further details of the grassland performance from the Teagasc/Tirlán Future Farms is available in Table 1 below.
Table 1: Performance from the Teagasc/Tirlán Future Farms – week of July 12, 2024
| Farmer | Litres/cow |
Milk solids kg/cow |
Meal kg/cow |
Average Farm Cover kg DM/ha |
Pre-grazing yield |
Demand kg DM/ha/day |
Growth kg DM/ha/day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donal Kavanagh | 23.0 | 1.80 | 3 | 679 | 1,400 | 42 | 71 |
| Tom Murphy | |||||||
| Francis Nolan | 24.0 | 1.91 | 4.5 | 810 | 1,500 | 46 | 70 |
| Jack Kearney | 23.1 | 1.88 | 4 | 601 | 1,400 | 52 | 72 |
| John Ryan | 21.8 | 1.75 | 3 | 720 | 1.400 | 74 | 66 |
| Kevin Murphy | 24.5 | 1.94 | 6 | 537 | 1,200 | 50 | 64 |
| Mullen Farm (winter milk) | 23.5 | 1.81 | 3.5 | 726 | 1,600 | 72 | 80 |
| Shane Fitzgerald | 22.9 | 1.77 | 3 | 665 | 1,400 | 54 | 43 |
| Shay Ryan | 23.0 | 1.85 | 2.5 | 590 | 1,400 | 56 | 92 |
| Steven Fitzgerald | 25.0 | 1.95 | 4 | 752 | 1,400 | 41 | 66 |
| Tom Fennelly | 21.3 | 1.75 | 3 | 616 | 1,400 | 54 | 64 |
| Average | 23.2 | 1.84 | 4 | 670 | 1,410 | 54 | 69 |
Farmer focus
Sandra also visited John Ryan in Gortnahoe, Co. Tipperary, last week to completed a grass walk; they also looked at the performance thus far on a May reseed, fodder supplies and calf performance.
Sandra explained: “John put in 3kg of white clover in the reseeding mix. It received its post emergence spray at 7-8 weeks and was grazed at the end of June. It has a clover score of +25% and with a cover of 1,100kg DM/ha, it was targeted for grazing next to encourage tillering and clover establishment.”
Additionally, fodder budgeting was a focus of the visit. After completing first cut in May, and accounting for all stock to be carried over the winter and a one month buffer, John has over 60% of his fodder in stock for the winter. When projected second and third cuts were factored in, Sandra noted that John should be 100% secure come September.
She added: “We would encourage all farmers to do a fodder budget and see and plan for the winter of 2024.”
Calf performance, both in terms of health and live weight gain, was also discussed. Through the use of faecal samples, John’s calves have yet to receive a dose this year. Clostridial vaccines are also up to date.
In terms of live weight gain, all 41 calves were weighed two weeks ago and all bar nine were over 155kg. Anything under 155kg will receive 1.5kg/head/day of concentrate until the next weighing, with the remainder staying on grass only.
For more information on the Teagasc/Tirlán Future Farm Programme, click here.