Archive Article: 2002/06/28
WITH plenty of grass now available, Grasswatch producers main challenge is to keep grass quality high and maximise milk production as swards approach maturity.
Its the time of year when grass is trying to go to head, says Staffs-based producer Stephen Brandon. "Grass has already become stemy around dung patches and without careful management, quality will rapidly fall."
High grass quality is essential to maximise intakes and summer milk production. Spring calving cows are currently yielding 25 litres from grass alone, says Mr Brandon.
Similarly, Alan Wheatley is planning to tidy up several paddocks which were poorly grazed in wet weather earlier this year on his Pembrokeshire unit. "A light cut of big bale silage will be taken and used for over-wintering stock."
Poor grass quality is not a problem for Dorset producer Clyde Jones. Growth rates are high with covers at 2600kg DM/ha following an application of fertiliser to boost growth rates. "Normally we would be concerned with this amount of cover, but swards are lush and leafy. This makes a change from previous years."
In Cumbria, Robert Craig is hoping to graze silage aftermath, allowing some grazing areas to be closed up for second cut in mid-August. "Silage aftermath was looking poor a couple of weeks ago, but growth has now picked up." *
Daily growth rates
Berks 50kg DM/ha
Cumbria 1 85kg DM/ha
Cumbria 2 65kg DM/ha
Dorset 105kg DM/ha
Pembrokeshire 80-85kg DM/ha
Staffs 70kg DM/ha