Getting an early start on next year’s grass

Getting cattle out to grass in spring time sounds simple in practice, but in truth requires a high degree of stock and grassland management. John Milligan, from Castlewellan, is a farmer who is putting this into practice on his 170 acre farm carrying 50 suckler cows and 220 ewes.

Due to varying land type and weather, there is no universal date for early turnout. However, every farmer can attempt to make better use of spring grass by getting stock out earlier than they did the previous year. John’s farm is in the LFA, running from 550 to 700ft above sea level, with a mixture of dry and heavy soil. Yet his turn out date ranges from 28 February to mid April.

Planning to graze early spring grass begins the previous autumn. On John’s farm, the aim is to get cattle to grass by the first two weeks of March. Approximately 20 autumn calving cows and calves will be put out to a 19 acre block of ground. Spring calving cows are turned out shortly after calving.

Fields have been closed from the 9 October following a tight grazing (down to 1600 KG DM/ha, 4cm) which is essential to encourage clover development.

Many farmers have the intention of closing ground early, but the temptation of one last grazing in November to “shorten” the winter often prevails, which delays the spring growth and turn-out date. Livestock performance gained from one week’s grazing in spring is worth two weeks grazing in autumn.

In spring, John normally applies around 30 units of nitrogen to the ground that will be grazed first in the form of urea or chalk, depending on price. Slurry will be applied to ground with a low P & K index (i.e. 0 or 1) at 1500 gallons/acre and spread 3-4 weeks before the field is required for grazing.

Silage ground should be included in the first rotation, but should be grazed no later than the first week in April and grazed down no further than 1800 KG DM/ha (6cm). If these guidelines are followed any reduction in silage yield should be less than 10 percent. Such a reduction in the yield of first cut silage is offset by the lower requirement for silage due to the earlier cattle turnout.

Early turnout does not mean putting every animal back to grass at once. Turn out cattle in small groups with priority given to stock that will be sold off grass or sold the following winter. Stocking rates should be around 500-600KG liveweight/acre (1.5 weanlings/acre) depending on ground conditions and grass covers. Grass covers should average 2000KG DM/ha (8cm) which would provide around six days grazing at this stocking rate.

The value of grass and potential liveweight gain at low cost is vital for improving profit compared to a winter of high feeding costs. Plan now to reduce the length of time your cattle stand in the house this winter. For further advice, contact your local beef & sheep advisor.