Dairy Newsletter - August 2024

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In this month's edition:

• Top five tips for August
  1. Grass – building cover in August is key to extending the grazing season
  2. Cash is tight on many farms – complete a simple cashflow budget
  3. If in a winter feed deficit – identify animals for early culling
  4. Replacements – now is the time to weigh calves
  5. Empty slurry tanks now
• Tight fodder supplies in most areas
  Teagasc surveyed over 500 dairy and drystock clients across the country in July to assess winter fodder stocks, using a representative range of scale and stocking rates.
• Building grass is this month’s focus
  August is the month to start building grass for autumn. We have had a slow year in terms of growth but management in the next six weeks will be crucial, as the rate of grass growth (supply) will be less than what is eaten (demand) by mid September.
• Monitor calf weight performance at grass
  Achieving weight for age targets in heifer calves is important for future productivity of the herd. When visiting farms, we see huge ranges in growth performance of heifer calves throughout the rearing period.
• Health & Safety - Take care with machinery
  August is harvest month, which brings an increase in machinery movement on farms and public roads. Moving machines are dangerous, particularly to bystanders. Being struck by a machine can cause severe injury and death.