Act early to maintain grass in the diet

Recent dry and very-high-temperature weather put pressure on grazing platforms, particularly in the southern half of the country. Grass growth slowed to around 30-40kg DM/ha/day, and any surplus grass on farms is likely to disappear quickly. At the same time, high temperatures are also reducing grass quality as swards head out, creating a challenge for high-performing cows and cattle during a key production and breeding period.

Protect grass supply
The priority is to keep average farm cover above 650kg DM/ha, or above 180kg DM/LU, and if growth rate continues at these reduced levels, you will need a rotation length of up to 25 days. This may require reducing demand by removing surplus stock, bringing silage ground back into the grazing block, increasing meal feeding, or introducing buffer forage before grass supply becomes critical.

Match buffer feeding to the grass deficit
When buffer feeding, quantity comes before quality. Start by measuring available grass and calculating the feed gap. Where cows remain at grass full-time, concentrate feeding will typically sit around 0.11-0.16kg per kg of milk produced. If cows are housed by night, or grass intake falls below 10kg DM/cow/day, concentrate levels may need to rise to approximately 0.22-0.27kg per kg of milk. Once meal feeding reaches practical limits, any remaining deficit should be filled with forage. Good-quality baled silage is often the most flexible option, as it can be introduced or removed more easily than pit silage.

Ensure access and comfort
Feed access is critical. Ideally, every cow should have a feed space, especially where smaller amounts of buffer feed are offered. Feeding during the hottest part of the day can help keep cows closer to shade, water, cooling areas, or sprinklers. Where more than 4-5kg DM/cow/day of buffer feed is required, offer it in more than one allocation, as cows are unlikely to consume this volume in one feeding period.

Monitor cow response
Watch milk yield, butterfat and protein closely, as changes can signal reduced intake or nutritional imbalance. Rumen fill reflects intake over the previous 24-hours, gut fill indicates intake over the past week, and body condition score shows the longer-term impact of feed supply over the previous month. 

Key message
Act early. Do not wait until grass has run out before responding. Maintaining a consistent level of grass in the diet will protect production, cow condition, and fertility during difficult grazing conditions.