Current Grassland Management

Current Dry Matter Levels (%)

Athenry

23%

Moorepark

28%

Oakpark

29%

Grange

22%

Johnstown

26%

MoSt Grass Growth Predictions for each country for 7 days (from 28th July 2026) show average growth in the North and North West predicted with below average growth predicted for the rest of the country
There is some predicted rain in the forecast but soil moisture available is still reduced across the country. Growth recovery will be linked to actual rain that falls not forecast rain
Current grass growth is below average across the country

Walk the farm to assess grass growth and supply on farm
Even where growth is low walking the farm allows you to assess recovery of paddocks and make informed decisions
Grass DM are above 20% across the country, avoid underestimating covers
- Implement strip wire to correctly allocate grass to cows and maximise utilisation
Paddocks that are brown to the base and not actively growing should be targeted for grazing
Aim to stretch rotation length to 25 days
- Graze no more than 4% of the farm per day
Identify paddocks that are green to the base and are actively growing
- Mind these paddocks and graze over 1000 kg DM/ha

Buffer feeding – Concentrate and good quality grass silage
Bring silage ground (<2,500 kg DM/ha) back into grazing area if accessible
- Where silage yield is >2,500 kg DM/ha cut as planned
Actions to reduce demand on drystock farms
- Utilise out block
- Try to finish animals earlier
- Wean lambs and autumn born calves
Actions to reduce demand on dairy farms
- Remove surplus stock (low yielders, cull cows, non-dairy animals)
- Move heifers and calves to out block
Do a fodder available budget in PBI to assess current feed quantity and
quality available in yard

Fertiliser should not be spread when growth drops below 35 kg DM/ha
- Plants do not uptake fertiliser when growth is reduced and it can be lost
  to the environment
After a dry spell there will be mineralisation in the soil after rain falls
- This will release N to fuel recovery grass growth
Fertiliser can be spread 7-10 days after rain when grass is growing 50+kg
DM/ha consistently
Spreading fertiliser earlier is a risk to water quality and is a waste of fertiliser
- Paddocks actively growing grass (over 50 kg DM/ha) can receive some fertiliser or dairy washings
- Target paddocks reseeded in the last 3 years, paddocks with optimum soil fertility and paddocks on heavier land
If rain is forecast it is important not to pre-spread fertiliser

Providing adequate water supply to meet herd demand is important to keep
stock comfortable in warm weather
It is particularly important where a higher dry matter diet is being offered to
the animals
Paul Maher discusses the importance of farm water supply on farm, in the video below.