Pasturebase figures this week show average growth on drystock farms at 37kg DM/ha, with 21 days of grass ahead. Most farms would like to be further ahead, but compared to where we were three weeks ago, it’s a good position to be.

Much of this growth has been driven by above average soil temperatures, with soil 2-3 degrees Celsius higher than the norm for the time of year, while water availability is no longer an issue after ample rain over the last few weeks.

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Spring calving herds should still possibly look at weaning calves earlier to help further build grass covers, while any empty cows should now be pulled and either sold live in the mart or placed on concentrates to further reduce demand both for grass now and silage stocks in the winter where both are lacking on farms.

Slurry can still be spread up until the end of the month, with good response to slurry applications reported from farmers amid the high growth rates.

Shaun Diver

Tullamore Farm, Co Offaly

The last application of fertiliser went out at the weekend, with 50ac receiving a bag/acre 27-0-5, with a further 30ac having received urea two weeks ago – 30ac additionally received 2,00 gallons of slurry/acre, with the ground that got slurry responding the best as we come out of the drought. Grass is still extremely tight and we are struggling to build covers. We may pull the ewes requiring preferential treatment and offer them better grass to build condition ahead of breeding. Ram lambs are being fed 0.7kg/head/day. We may look to offer concentrates to ewe lambs destined for slaughter soon. We decided to wean the bull calves early to reduce demand. Cull cows will be offered concentrates.

System Suckler to beef

Soil Type Variable

Farm cover (kg/DM/ha) 537

Growth (kg/DM/ha/day) 55

Demand (kg/DM/ha/day) 30

Mark Maxwell,

Ballinagore, Co Westmeath

I’m spreading slurry this week to boost P and K levels heading into autumn. Bucket licks are out with cows to protect against grass tetany. I held off on spreading slurry in drier weather, and with growth as strong as it is there should be a good uptake in nutrients. I finished spreading fertiliser 10 days ago, with much of the farm blanket-spread with a bag/acre of CAN. I’m moving spring-calvers out to after-grass on an out-farm to hold grass for autumn-calvers. Autumn calves were treated for lungworm as they began to cough, while breeding will commence on 10 October for their dams. Third-cut silage will hopefully be harvested in the next week or so, with some reseeding to do on ground that was in barley.

System Suckler to beef

Soil Type Variable

Farm cover (kg/DM/ha) 831

Growth (kg/DM/ha/day) 47

Demand (kg/DM/ha/day) 50

Sasha Lavin Newford Herd, Co Roscommon

Heifers are being slaughtered this week after being housed earlier in summer to reduce demand. Twelve heifers were drafted, at an average deadweight 300kg and liveweight 590kg at 18.7 months.

Heifers gained 1.36kg/day at housing, grading R-3+, with 4kg/head/day of 12% crude protein ration fed alongside high DMD silage left over from last year. Bullocks stayed out and are starting at 2kg ration/head/day at grass to finish as many as possible off grass.

A fourth cut will be taken on the out farm in the next fortnight, with two paddocks of surplus to come out in the next week. 120 surplus bales are made so far. We have ample fodder for the winter ahead due to having a buffer of feed from last year.

System Suckler to beef

Soil Type Variable

Farm cover (kg/DM/ha) 928

Growth (kg/DM/ha/day) 35

Demand (kg/DM/ha/day) 36