Forage for Knowledge

Review paddock performance now

Our challenge now is to reduce the impact on next season. Start by reviewing the conditions of your paddocks and thinking about how they will respond once rain arrives.

Have any paddocks suffered plant death? If so, now is the time to plan how to correct it. Are you going to stitch in or direct drill?

If you’re introducing new grass, consider using an aggressive variety with good reserves, such as tetraploid, to help it compete effectively.

Bare spaces encourage weeds, so acting early is important. Ploughing is probably not the right option because it will increase moisture loss. However, much will depend on what autumn rainfall brings.

Check cow and youngstock performance

Cow body condition is also worth checking. Some cows may have lost condition because of the prolonged heat.

Consider how your youngstock have fared. Have you weighed them? Are they on target? Remember that target weights are the minimum expected, not the average for the group. 

Supporting people through a long winter

If cows are housed on a full ration and are unlikely to return to grass, that's tough on people as well as livestock. It can make for a very long winter.

Think about practical changes on farm. Have staff had holidays? Are there ways to make the extra workload easier?

Focus on foot health and cow comfort

With cows spending much longer on concrete, foot health should be a priority.

Cow comfort also needs close attention. Cows housed in cubicles for extended periods are at greater risk of hock lesions and other bumps.

Cows with injuries and lumps and bumps are less likely to lie comfortably in cubicles. This can have a negative effect on mobility and production.

A review of cow comfort is therefore important. Take a look at Cow Signals social media channels, which provide useful and easy-to-follow guidance.

Plan ahead to reduce drought impacts

By taking the time to assess both your herd and your people, you should be able to reduce the impact of the drought on your business going forward.

Build grass covers where growth allows

If you’ve had rain and growth is now above demand, start raising covers to supply grass for the autumn. This needs to be built on clean, good residuals; you don't want to be trying to graze poor quality grass in a wet October/November.