Forage for Knowledge

With wind, we should see soils drying, which will make it easier to access paddocks, and things change quickly this time of year once grass growth gets moving.

Grass growth is speeding up

This week’s data shows growth across the country ranging from 8 to 47.

At about the midpoint of March grass really wakes up and change is rapid. One day it feels like winter and the next it feels like spring.

Of course, spring is a mixture of summer and winter, but once spring starts, nature does not slow down.

We are now in the stage where growth rates start to accelerate. Many parts of the country are already on that exponential part of the growth curve. Those that aren’t will be there very soon.

Why does this matter? Well, this year many farms still have high average covers and are feeding silage and high levels of concentrate. Some herds are on 4 kg+.

With a low milk price season ahead of us, costs matter. If you stay in a winter mindset while grass races ahead, you risk letting entry covers get too high.

This leads to poor utilisation and extra cost to get control back. That isn’t something most people can afford this season.

I was with a discussion group last week. We talked about two spring-calving farms in the same parish last year. Both produced the same milk and solids. One fed 1.5 kg of concentrate per day and the other fed 5 kg.

Good grass management allows you to challenge the grass, the cows and yourself. The former is the goal, the latter is expensive.

A real example of cost savings

I visited an autumn-calving business near me two weeks ago. Cows were still housed. His feed cost for 21 kg DM intake was £4.09/cow/day.

Housing costs including slurry, bedding and feeding were £1.50/cow/day. Total cost was £5.59/cow/day.

We discussed turning cows out for 5 kg DM from breakfast to lunchtime. This would save 5 kg DM in the ration and some housing costs. Together this saved £1.25/cow/day on 300 cows.

I spoke with him yesterday. The cows will be out full-time in the next couple of days. They are currently giving 23 L, just over 2 kg of milk solids.

Concentrate will come back to 2–3 kg, depending on how bold he is. My challenge for him is 0.5 kg per milking as parlour bait.

So, his cost saving will be around £5/cow/day. Will he lose milk? I doubt it. it might even increase.

Health reminder

There have been reports of higher levels of milk fever in fresh cows recently. Make sure your prevention measures are up to scratch.

Final message

So, my main message this week is simple. Ditch the winter mindset and embrace spring. It’s here.

I do realise I sit here in Devon and some of you further north are a little behind. My in-laws are from Northumberland and I know spring is already starting there. If it hasn’t reached you quite yet, it will be soon.

Do not get left behind. Embrace spring and the grazing.