Forage for Knowledge 2024: End-of-season reflections and insights

As this year's Forage for Knowledge draws to an end, pasture-to-profit consultant Piers Badnell shares his final thoughts on the year and some notes to consider for the next 4–6 weeks.

Even though the comments will end, if your average cover supports it, there are another five weeks of potential grazing for the right cow – taking into account the shortening days and wetter conditions.

Having said that, at the time of writing (24 October), most of the country is expecting some drier, settled weather over the next 10 days, with just a few exceptions, and with that weather comes the opportunity to utilise grazing.

Quality is holding well, with 12.4 ME and 25% CP in last week’s grass analysis. Some would look at dry matter at 16% and comment on how wet it is and ask what milk is in it. I would suggest it depends on what you are trying to get out of it.

For late lactation spring calvers or late lactation all-year-round calvers, there may not be large amounts of milk yield, but quality in terms of fat and protein are there to be had. As an example, 16 kg DM grazing and 2 kg concentrate should do M + 17 L (8% F & P – 1.4 kg MS).

In the last week, I visited two businesses. They are both grazing 24 hours, but one is doing 14.5 L and 1.4 kg MS on 5 kg concentrate, while the other is producing 14 L and 1.4 kg MS on 1.5 kg concentrate and pretty much similar average cover. The difference was confidence in late-season grazing.

We often focus on litres, but it is only part of the story. It is more important to consider the cost of producing those litres.

Cows still grazing (late lactation) are not incurring housing or feeding costs, and there is less labour and machinery use. This results in a lower cost of production.

Data from AHDB, previously DairyCo’s Milkbench analysis, shows that 80% of profit is influenced by production cost. In Ireland, 42% of profit is explained by grass utilisation per hectare, making these key considerations.

For autumn calvers (grass-based), this approach may still apply, even with breeding around the corner.

Many autumn calvers now have cows in at night but continue grazing 12.4 ME and 25% CP grass during the day – it may only be 5 kg DM.

This grass provides a high-quality protein boost and reduces the concentrate’s protein requirement, especially if maize is in the diet.

Concerns about fertility arise with breeding approaching, but as long as dietary and routine changes are gradual, fertility remains unaffected.

The next week is mostly dry and settled for most, so there is an opportunity for autumn calvers – are you utilising it? If your forecast is heavy rain all next week, then a cubicle and a good feed passage is the best place for your autumn calvers.

Looking at growth, it is just below the 2017–2022 line and is going one way. However, this week, many have reported strong regrowth behind cows as it is mild.

The data collected for Forage for Knowledge has a range of 5 to 54, and most growth rates in the southwest of England have been 30–45 kg DM ha per day.

Cow body condition is essential to consider. For late lactation cows that are too thin, now is the time to act – dry them early or switch to once-a-day milking. It takes about ten days for a cow’s metabolism to adjust, so timing is key.

Yesterday, on farm, I saw a spring calver who had an automatic weighing system in the parlour exit race and is now drying early and supplementing for those who are not putting weight on quick enough.

He said that once cows were supplemented, it was taking 10–14 days to notice body condition improving. It's good to hear on-farm practice aligning with the research. It's time to look at cows if you have not already.

Looking back over the year, it began with above-normal rainfall, continuing from last year. With climate change, more extreme weather could become common.

Some suggestions are to:

• Prepare, upgrade, repair or extend tracks
• Identify bottlenecks
• Consider on-off grazing if needed and learn best practices from those experienced with it
• Increase paddock access points
• Clean out ditches and drains to increase water flow
• In wet conditions, graze the wettest you dare, so if it is really wet you have drier land to go to if it persists being wet. Grass utilisation drives profit

Very anecdotally – and I have not analysed this scientifically, so treat with caution – with a couple of discussion groups with spring calvers, there seems to be a strong correlation between empty rate and grass in the diet.

Many have reported +5–7% on their empty rates from spring breeding and some whose empty rates were as expected and good, for example, 6–8% for 12-week breeding.

The difference was those that kept high levels of grass in the diet pre-breeding by on-off grazing, moving cows regularly and sometimes sacrificing good residuals for high grass intake (residuals sorted once dry enough) and minimal silage.

These had good empty rates compared to those who had cows inside and then out, then in and fed much more silage (some not great stuff as they ran low). They suffered higher-than-expected empty rates for their businesses.

Before you think, "Well, they must farm light land," some of these with good empty rates do not have enough housing to bring cows in. Also, some are on heavy ground, so it is ability and lateral thinking that kept these cows fed and performing.

The people doing this did look tired from the extra work, but it paid off.

Having walked a couple of these farms, soil damage was surprisingly low. Another group member who had good empty rates kept cows in fully; he was fortunate to have enough quality silage. So, high grass diet anecdotally pays off.

Good luck for the rest of the season.

My final thoughts: grass utilisation and low production costs drive profit, supported by the right stocking rate, average cover, residuals and zero tolerance for lameness.

Here's hoping for a kinder season next year.

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