Forage for Knowledge

Growth rates were between 40 and 58 kg DM/ha/day, with average covers of 2,100 to 2,250 kg DM/ha.

The combination of heat and lack of moisture has brought grass growth to a halt. As soon as temperatures hit 30°C, growth stopped. Plants begin to struggle once temperatures rise above 25°C.

For those areas that have had some recent rain, maintain average cover through the correct rotation length based on growth rates. Hit residuals and keep driving quality.

Back to basics

One farmer I spoke to this week decided the best way to cope with poor milk prices was to focus on the basics of grazing management.

By focusing on grass quality, grazing the correct entry covers, allocating grass accurately and hitting residuals, he got an extra 1.5 litres per cow at peak yield and maintained a good milk curve. This was achieved while feeding less concentrate.

Unfortunately, the lack of rainfall has slowed progress, but the farm is well positioned to make the most of any rain when it does arrive.

Planning for a prolonged dry spell

Apart from southwest Scotland, there’s very little rain forecast for the next three weeks.

While the BBC forecast mentions showers in some areas, isolated showers are unlikely to kick start the regrowth.

What is needed is steady, prolonged rainfall, maybe four or five days of more than 15 mm of rain each day. Thunderstorms don’t really solve the problem. Heavy rain on baked soil often runs off.

Even when significant rain does arrive, it’ll take another two to three weeks for water to soak in, plants to recover and growth rates to rebuild average cover. Grazing too hard or too soon can prolong the drought.

That means many farms could face at least six more weeks of relying on large amounts of supplementary feed.

Review feed stocks and cash flow now

Now is the time to get the calculator out and work through the figures.

Consider:

• How much feed will you need if dry conditions continue through the summer?
• What feed will you need for winter?
• Where are you in terms of feed stocks and cash?

It’s worth remembering that when rain eventually arrives, post-drought grass growth can be very strong and there may still be opportunities to make silage later in the season.

Make difficult decisions early

Do you have any passenger cows that could leave the herd? Could some cows be dried off earlier than planned?

These animals will still need feeding, but lower-cost options such as hay or straw, alongside some concentrate to maintain crude protein levels, may be cheaper than feeding valuable forage to low-yielding cows in late lactation.

Alternative feeds are available, but there will be demand for these.

It’s time to check your feed budget, cash flow budget and different drought scenarios. Speak to people locally and professionally who may be able to help or at least listen.