14 August 2023

Top 5 tips for August

Joe Patton, Teagasc Head of Dairy Knowledge Transfer, gives his top five tips for dairy farmers this August.

Last change to correct grass quality before building farm cover

Building grass covers off a clean base has to be the key target in the second half of August. The correction of grass quality on farms therefore must take place in the first two to three weeks of August. Target pre-grazing yields of 1,300- 1,400kg DM/ha during this period and remove surpluses as they arise at the first available opportunity.

Don’t let somatic cell count creep in the second half of lactation

Use milk recording to make informed decisions around managing somatic cell count (SCC). Culling a few chronically-infected cows now might be a tough decision for many, but the headaches that high SCC cause are not worth it; people need to stop the spread now by whatever means works best on their farm.

Weigh replacement heifer calves now

Establish their weights relative to targets for August 1; calves should be 175kg now for a target 550kg mature cow weight (maintenance €20). Change management treatment for all animals below target weight – either introduce meals or graze in front of older calves or heifers.

Get lime spread before it’s too late

One of those jobs that is historically left until late autumn and often never happens as a result to poor ground conditions or heavy grass covers is the spreading of ground limestone to correct soil pH. Now is the ideal time after silage cuts have taken place to analyse soil results and get lime spread where required.

Ensure you take some time off

The breeding season has finished up on farms over the last few weeks, which ticks off one of the remaining key tasks within the calendar year. This should allow the opportunity if you haven’t already done so to schedule some time away from the farm over the coming weeks and months.

Also read: Maximising the return from grass in autumn 2023

Also read: Milking interval effects on milk yield