Final steps for winter

A challenging year for grass growth and weather conditions has been somewhat tempered by a good ending, allowing for decent growth and conditions that extended the season as much as possible. For some farms, the temptation is to let the final grazing days be the hardest and continue eating into next year’s growing season to shorten the winter.
Met Éireann has predicted that the growing season will increase by 35-40 days over the coming years, with scenarios like those seen last month potentially becoming more common. To take advantage of this, we might need enhanced grazing infrastructure. Regarding what we do now – and without the benefit of a crystal ball to foresee next spring – we should broadly stick to the established grazing rules. At a minimum, we should aim to set up for grazing decent covers in the spring in paddocks with good conditions and close proximity to the sheds.
We are often advised to reserve higher-quality feed for when it is most needed, as it is much easier to construct a feeding plan to produce 10-15 litres than to produce 25-30 litres. Body condition should be reviewed again, and if it is not within the 3-3.25 bracket, corrective actions must be taken. This might include providing extra feed or transitioning to once-a-day milking to dry off cows in ideal condition. With milk prices exceeding 60c/L for some, there is less debate about whether it pays to ‘milk on’. Beyond all other costs, the key expense is the difference between the dry cow diet and the milking cow diet. Both will consume 50kg of silage, so the primary variable is the cost of concentrates.
It’s also important to assess replacement heifer weights, ideally through actual measurements. Are they on target for weight and height? If so, what should their diet look like over the coming months? What daily weight gain needs to be achieved? This depends not only on targets but also on silage quality, ration quantity, and feed protein levels. Silage quality will vary, and heifers will present in different conditions this year, requiring adjustments to management practices. Remember: energy drives them out, and protein drives them up. Frame development in heifers is sometimes overlooked, and based on average silage quality nationwide, a focus on 19-20 per cent protein rations for heifers is recommended.
Finally, Alltech would like to wish all farmers a very happy and safe Christmas. This is a great time of year to avail of the opportunity to switch off, recharge, and focus on something else for a while, where possible.