26 January 2024
Early grazing key to stretching fodder reserves
The National Fodder and Food Security Committee reconvened on Wednesday, January 24th, to assess the situation on farms in terms of fodder supplies and to quantify the challenges facing tillage growers this spring.
Teagasc Livestock Knowledge Transfer Specialists, Joe Patton and Pearse Kelly reviewed the findings of the Teagasc Fodder Survey completed last autumn and provided an update on the situation on the ground in terms of fodder supplies.
On dairy farms, the current silage and feed situation is stable, but a late spring will cause shortages of 10-15% on some farms. Given this, the turnout and utilisation of grass this spring will be key, with farmers being encouraged to implement early season grazing practices when conditions become challenging.
On beef farms, as measured through commercial farms participating in knowledge transfer programmes and advisor feedback, the committee heard that the majority of suckler farmers are reporting adequate fodder stocks; however, 25% will be tight if still feeding all stock indoors by the end of March. At the same feeding rate, <10% will be short by mid-March.
Meanwhile, on calf to beef farms – many of which are stocked heavier than suckler farms – the majority (>80%) were reported to have adequate fodder supplies, the committee heard, with these farms said to be on target or meeting feed budgets as planned.
Also appearing before the committee, Head of the Grassland Research Department in Teagasc, Michael O’Donovan presented the grass growth figures for 2023, noting the annual tonnages grown on dairy farm milking platforms were down in both 2023 and 2022 on account of lower chemical nitrogen usage, driven by high fertiliser prices.
Although from a low base, the committee had heard that there was a 14% increase in the year-on-year purchases of forage on farms recording Teagasc eProfit Monitor data and Michael pointed to lower levels of grass production on milking platforms as a contributing factor to this.
However, following a grass growth rate of 4kg DM/ha/day from December 15th to January 15th – average levels of overwinter growth – farms will be primed for grazing in terms of their average farm cover by the time large numbers of stock re-emerge.
“Early indications are that grass supply is reasonably high at farm level, probably at the average of what we would expect. If we are at a farm cover of 830kg DM/ha at the moment, we should get to 930kg DM/ha by the time a high level of cows or even other stock get to grass,” he told the committee.
Michael also highlighted the importance of planning fertiliser applications this spring, whether that be slurry or artificial fertilisers, and suggested that farmers pay more attention to applying nitrogen at the times during which the best response is achieved.
For more information and to view the presentations made at the National Fodder and Food Security Committee, click here.