Getting your Grazing back on Track

By John Kilboyle, B&T Drystock Adviser, Teagasc, Galway/Clare

Correcting Paddocks with Poor Quality Grass during July:

With thundery showers & heavy rainfall throughout the country soil moisture deficits have disappeared. Grass growth rates have increased. It is important at this stage of the grazing season to keep quality in the sward and use this opportunity to remove paddocks with poor grass quality. There are only 2 grazing rotations until the process of building autumn grass starts so it is essential that there are clean swards on your farm. Now is the time to rectify paddocks that have gone stemmy. Preferably paddocks with poor quality grass should be targeted to be cut for surplus bales, however, if no surplus grass is available on farm, use a disc mower to top 1-2 paddocks per week.

Overall, the key objective over the coming weeks will be to maintain an adequate supply of high quality grass. A 20-day rotation and grazing 1,400kg DM/ha will be the target for the coming weeks. It will also keep the sward at the right stage of growth. The grass plant is right for grazing when it is at the 2-3 leaf stage. This is broadly captured in the phrase “Grown in 3 weeks, graze in 3 days” and forms the basis for a rotational grazing paddock system.  Grazing the right cover of grass will improve cattle’s average daily gain by 0.25kg live weight per day. Grass stem and dead material are lower in feed quality, difficult to graze, reduces animal intake, grows less grass and results in poorer live weight gain.

Grazing Infrastructure:

There is a significant opportunity on most farms for improving grazing infrastructure, which will allow for better control of grass, increased grass growth and improved animal performance. There is greater flexibility during poor weather conditions and cattle are easier to manage which is particularly important in a one person operation. On many drystock farms, there are too few paddocks per grazing group. In most cases, fields are too large with set-stocking practised. As a result, cattle are grazing paddocks for too long. The productivity of both the animal and the sward is then significantly reduced. In this scenario, farmers often find that regrowth’s are not protected and are continually grazed hindering growth rates. On the other hand, cattle are often grazing excessively high covers resulting in poor utilisation. As a result, fields have to be topped to clean off the heavy residual at an additional cost to farmer. PastureBase Ireland figures show that there is a direct relationship between the number of paddocks on a farm and the number of grazing’s that take place. PastureBase Ireland data illustrates that every additional new paddock on a farm will give five extra grazing’s on the farm for the year. As a consequence of sub-dividing a farm into paddocks, the number of grazing’s will increase in conjunction with dry matter production. Dividing fields into paddocks need not be an elaborate or high-cost project. In the majority of cases, reels and poly wire can be used to temporarily split fields for grazing. Having adequate drinkers in fields is very important to allow subdivision. Water trough location can be an issue on many farms when it comes to setting up a paddock system as it is often positioned in the corner of the field.  Relocating a water trough (or installing a temporary drinker system) to a more ‘central’ position means that it can service multiple temporary paddocks.

Fertiliser:

Maintenance phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), requirements of a paddock in any given year will depend on the yield of the paddock and if the paddock was primarily grazed or if there was silage harvested. As we are now passed the mid-point of the growing season a decision can be made on what needs to be replaced on grazing and silage ground to maintain and or improve soil fertility. This should be assessed in conjunction with soil samples and allowances on farm for chemical nitrogen and phosphorous. Keep in mind, when paddocks are grazed, animals will recycle 90% of the K in the grass back on to the paddock in dung and urine. However, if paddocks are baled 100% of the K in the grass is removed from the field and will need to be replaced. Make sure enough sulphur is spread on the farm, it is essential for N uptake and fixation in grass clover swards. Aim for 15-20units N/ac + S, there will be increased N release from the soil due to rainfall and above average soil temps. If there is a lime requirement on the farm, make a plan now for when and how much is to be applied.