John Barry May/June Update 2026

Winter Fodder Planning

The prolonged winter of 2025/26 depleted fodder reserves on John Barry’s farm, requiring the purchase of additional silage during March and April. As a result, rebuilding winter feed stocks is a key priority for 2026.

The first step in preparing a fodder budget is estimating livestock numbers for the coming winter (Figures 1 & 2). Using these projected stock numbers, the PastureBase Ireland Fodder Budget Tool can be used to calculate total winter feed requirements and identify any potential deficits well in advance.

Based on planned stock numbers and an estimated 150-day winter housing period, approximately 265 tonnes of silage dry matter will be required for winter 2026/27 (Figure 3).

Current Fodder Position

• Approximately 80 high-quality silage bales were harvested in early May from paddocks that could not be grazed due to wet spring conditions.
• Following harvest, these fields received 2,500 gallons of cattle slurry per acre, supplemented with protected urea to replace nutrients removed in the crop.
•  Approximately 120 bales of silage were made on the 26^th of May
• First-cut silage will be harvested around the 1^st week of June

Action Plan

At present, the 200 bales produced are the only fodder reserves available on the farm. Following first-cut silage, John will reassess fodder stocks using the PastureBase Ireland fodder budget tool.

If a deficit is identified:

• Additional silage ground may be closed where possible.
• Purchased baled silage will be considered, depending on availability and cost.
• Decisions will be made early to avoid the higher costs and limited options often experienced later in the season.

Completing a fodder budget now allows for better planning and reduces the risk of feed shortages next winter.

Figure 1. Shows the planned livestock numbers for the coming winter 2026/2027

Figure 2. Shows the planned level of supplementary feed per livestock category and the intakes of each category.

Figure 3. Planned silage making for 2026 showing 265.5 tonnes of dm required for a 150 day winter

Figure 4. Silage being cut on John Barrys farm on the 24th of May and baled on the 26th of May 2026

Targeted Winter Feeding Strategy

Producing silage of the appropriate quality for each livestock category is central to John’s winter feeding strategy.

The aim is to produce:

• High-quality silage (72%+ DMD) for weanlings, autumn-calving cows and finishing cattle (Figure 5).
• Moderate-quality silage (67–68% DMD) for dry spring-calving cows (Figure 6).

Matching silage quality to animal requirements helps minimise concentrate feeding costs while maintaining animal performance.

Feeding Strategy by Stock Class

Autumn-Calving Cows

Autumn-calving cows will receive high-quality silage (>70% DMD) along with 1.5 kg/day of a 14% crude protein concentrate to support milk production and encourage early cycling during the breeding season.

Their calves will receive 0.5–1.0 kg/day of a 15% crude protein creep feed.

Weanlings

The target winter performance for weanlings is an average daily gain of 0.6 kg/day or greater.

• Weanlings offered 74% DMD silage require approximately 1 kg/day of a 16% crude protein ration.
• If fed 66% DMD silage, concentrate supplementation will increase to 3 kg/day of an 18% crude protein ration to maintain growth rates.

Dry Spring-Calving Cows

Dry cows will be offered 67–68% DMD silage to avoid excessive body condition gain before calving.

Where lower-quality silage (approximately 60% DMD) must be fed, cows will receive:

• 1.5 kg/day of a 16% crude protein ration
• 0.5 kg/day of soya bean meal for 4–6 weeks pre-calving

This supplementation helps improve both cow nutrition and colostrum quality prior to calving.

Figure 5. High DMD Silage produced in 2025 for feeding to weanlings and autumn calving suckler cows

Figure 6. Moderate DMD Silage produced in 2025 for feeding to spring calving suckler cows

Second-Cut Silage Fertiliser Strategy

Following the first-cut harvest, John  will apply slurry at a rate of 3000gals per acre to second-cut silage ground before being topped up with protected urea.

Previous slurry analysis results show that cattle slurry on the farm supplies significant levels of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), helping to meet crop nutrient requirements. Typically, an application of 3,000 gallons per acre provides sufficient P and K for second-cut silage.

To maximise grass growth and silage yield, slurry applications are supplemented with 60–70 units of nitrogen per acre in the form of protected urea.

John is using his own farms slurry nutrient values to guide fertiliser decisions improves nutrient-use efficiency while reducing fertiliser costs (Figure 7 & 8)

Slurry samples	pH	Dry Matter %	Available Nitrogen (Units/1000 gallons)	Phosphorus (Units/1000 gallons)	Potassium (Units/1000 gallons)
Fattening bulls 2022	6.8	10.23	15.8	8.36	32.79
Cows (open tank ‘22)	7.2	9.14	12	6.13	27.94
Cows (open tank ’23)	7.4	7.86	12.8	7.54	22
Autumn cows 2023	7.2	9.66	13.6	10.8	42.3

Figure 7. The different levels of nutrients contained in each slurry category

Figure 8. Fertiliser recommendation from Teagasc for second cut silage

Spring-Calving Herd Breeding Update

Breeding of the spring-calving herd commenced on 1 May, with clearly defined breeding dates in place to maintain a compact calving season.

The breeding programme consists of:

• 6–8 weeks of AI
• Followed by 4–6weeks with a Limousin stock bull
• Final service date of 22 July

This approach is designed to deliver an 11–12 week calving spread, running from early February to late April.

Breeding Targets for 2026

• Breeding start date: 1 May
• Breeding season length: Less than 12 weeks
• Final service date: 24 July
• Maintain a 365-day calving interval
• Eliminate late-May calving cows from the herd

A compact calving pattern improves labour efficiency, simplifies herd management and produces a more uniform batch of calves for sale.

Breeding Strategy

Artificial insemination is focused on replacement heifers and the highest-performing cows to maximise genetic gain.

Replacement heifers:

• Selected at 14–16 months of age
• Minimum liveweight of 400 kg
• Must be 4- or 5-star on the Euro-Star Replacement Index
• Positive for daughter milk and favourable fertility traits

Maternal sires such as LM8929 (Sliabh Felim Sterling) and LM9577 (Drumline S) are used to breed replacement females, while terminal Charolais and Belgian Blue sires are used to maximise carcass value and weanling sale performance (Figure 9).

Following the AI period, a 5-star terminal Limousin stock bull is used to serve repeat cows.

Fertility Management

As John also works off-farm, labour efficiency during breeding is a key priority.

Heat detection is carried out three times daily for approximately 10 minutes, supported by a vasectomised teaser bull fitted with a chin-ball harness to identify cows in heat.

Maintaining cow body condition after calving is also critical. Cows are moved onto high-quality grass immediately after turnout, while PastureBase Ireland is used to maintain farm covers of 700–800 kg DM/ha, ensuring a consistent supply of quality grass throughout the breeding season.

A strict culling policy remains in place, with cows removed from the herd if they:

• Calve late in the season
• Fail to produce adequate milk
• Have persistent feet or mobility issues
• Remain empty after the breeding season

This policy supports long-term herd fertility and helps maintain a compact calving pattern.

Figure 9. Main sires used for breeding replacements and the Limousin stock bull