Forage for Knowledge

Grass growth and grazing management

The latest figures tell very different stories across the country:

• Somerset: 5 kg DM/ha/day
• Dumfriesshire: 28 kg DM/ha/day
• Lancashire: 45 kg DM/ha/day
• Ayrshire: 50 kg DM/ha/day

In Somerset, only very small new leaves are starting to appear. During a paddock walk on 4 August some plants had only just produced their first new leaf.

The message is clear: do not graze these paddocks until three leaves are up. Even then, covers are likely to be no more than 1,800 kg DM/ha, so leave it be to develop.

Ayrshire and Lancashire have obviously had some rain. Here, the focus should be on protecting the average cover and setting round length to match growth.

In Dumfriesshire, growth seems to have slowed since the last recording two weeks ago. A longer grazing round might be needed to look after the plant and average cover. Keeping grass healthy now will help deliver a good response when the next rainfall arrives.

Planning feed supplies

Farmers should be looking at how they will feed cows until rain arrives and what impact this might have on winter forage stocks.

Winters are generally milder and wetter than they were 20 years ago. In the Midlands and South, winter growth rates often average between 5 and 10 kg DM/ha/day, although 10 kg DM/ha/day would be considered exceptional.

Twenty years ago, growth was often zero or some may lose cover. .

Further north, winter growth is usually lower, but many areas can still expect between 0 and 5 kg DM/ha/day, with some western locations achieving higher growth due to milder conditions. This creates opportunities to graze later into autumn and start earlier in spring.

Make the most of grazing opportunities

Farmers on wetter and heavier ground might question whether increased winter rainfall will allow more grazing.

However, many soils are currently extremely dry. It might take a lot of rainfall before soils become saturated again. This could create opportunities to extend grazing at certain points during winter, especially where good infrastructure is in place.

That opportunity may not come in December, but it could arrive in January or February.

Even small opportunities can make a difference. Grazing an extra 5 kg DM/head for five days here and there can help control heavier covers, reduce silage requirements, and provide cows with a high-protein and high-energy feed.

If these weather patterns continue, ditch cleaning and drainage improvements will become increasingly important. Better drainage can reduce poaching risk and help soils carry stock for longer.

While major investment might not be realistic during a period of lower farm incomes, drainage improvements should be considered when profits improve. For many farms on medium to heavy soils, drainage can deliver a good return on investment and improve long-term profitability.

Review forage requirements early

If you’re going to be short of forage for cows, calculate requirements as early as possible and see what’s available on the market.

Buying feed before demand increases might help you secure feed and reduce costs. However, I am not a market analyst, so do some homework.

When comparing feeds, look beyond the headline price (£/t):

• Compare feeds on a £/t dry matter basis
• If you’re short of energy, compare costs in
• If you’re short of protein, compare costs in p/% CP

Reducing demand is also worth considering. This may include:

• Culls going early
• Removing passenger cows
• Drying cows off where appropriate

Dry cows will still need feeding, but their intake and feed costs are lower than those of lactating cows. This does mean having a bit of time to work through the numbers and make some decisions.

Use our livestock feed blend calculator

Don’t overlook water supply

Finally, are your cows able to get enough water?

At least 10% of the herd should be able to drink at any one time. A 500 to 550 kg cow needs 30 to 40 litres for maintenance and 3 to 4 litres of water for every litre of milk produced.

During periods of heat stress, water requirements will increase further.

Both flow rate and volume matter. If a cow is short on water, she eats less. At the same time, cows use more energy to keep cool by panting, increasing the risk of body condition loss during periods of heat stress.

Monitor body condition closely

It takes more energy to put weight back on than is released by weight loss.

Select 20 cows at random and record their condition using photos or notes. Look at:

• Long ribs
• Whether short ribs are smooth
• Visibility of spinal processes

Review these cows again in two to four weeks and look for changes.

Body condition loss in these conditions can sneak up on a herd. A thin cow at drying off is likely to be a thin cow at calving, which can lead to reduced milk production, poorer fertility and a higher risk of lameness due to a thin fat pad on the bottom of the hoof.

These issues can affect both future performance and profitability, so regular monitoring is essential.

Looking after people as well as cows

Most of the country is experiencing tough times with the drought.

Have a chat with your neighbours and friends; it won’t sort the problem but a problem shared is a problem halved, as the saying goes. We need to look after the cows, but people need looking after too.