Herd Tasks: Your weekly farming checklist
A lot of ground is badly in need of nitrogen as can be seen where the grass has gone yellow and reduced in volume, writes adviser Brian Reidy.
- It is important to apply fertiliser over the next week or 10 days as temperatures hopefully begin to rise. The year is moving on and we need to push growth on. Use current soil results to make sure you apply the appropriate nutrients. The ground is badly in need of nitrogen as can be seen where the grass has gone yellow and reduced in volume due to the cold and wet.
- The first round of grazing is the ideal stimulus for the next crop of grass to get going in conjunction with a good fertiliser strategy.
- Start planning for silage — remember earlier cuts provide better quality and will reduce concentrate requirements next winter. Aim for a May cut to optimise quality and a faster regrowth for subsequent cuts.
- Plans for cereal crops, maize and beet, etc, must be put in place over the coming weeks.
- Check water troughs in paddocks and give them a good clean out before cattle enter paddocks for the first grazing of the year.
- Try to keep high producing stock on good-quality grass swards once turned out.
- Driving intake should be the priority to boost milk and fertility performance in fresh cows.
- Introduce cows slowly to grass and increase allocations each day for a week before leaving them out between morning and evening milking.
- Many herds are now out by day or soon will be, so make sure you allocate ground based on finishing the first round about the first week of April. Monitor this based on growth rates as you don't want to start the second round with too low a cover as you will be close to the breeding season by then. Many herds will need to adjust grazing targets and dates depending on turnout and ground conditions.
- Supply fresh cows that remain indoors with the best quality forage you have on the farm and balance with a sufficient volume of an appropriate concentrate.
- Continue to supplement suckled cows at grass with magnesium to prevent tetany, with bucket licks, etc.
- Watch recently turned out calves to make sure they are drinking their mother out.
- Begin heat detection as records will help you to identify any cows with issues before the breeding season. More and more suckler herds are using scanning as a management tool.
- Pre-breeding vaccination programmes should now be decided on — consult with your vet regarding timings etc.
Where measuring grass, ensure that weanlings are eating a minimum of 2% of their body weight in dry matter. If they are not achieving these intakes, supplementation with meal or forage may be necessary.
- Compiled by Brian Reidy, an independent ruminant nutritionist at Premier Farm Nutrition
