Teagasc guidelines for feeding cows

Cows need to be managed carefully, to make sure that they aren’t affected for the rest of the year by the scarcity of grass on dairy farms this spring.

The accompanying table summarises Teagasc’s guidelines for feeding cows this spring in difficult situations.

* Maintain forage (grass or silage, or grass plus silage) intake, to avoid sickening stock with too much ration.

* Body condition score must be maintained pre-breeding, or fertility will be reduced. The condition score target is 2.75 at the start of breeding.

* Don’t feed more than 1.5 kg of straw per day to milking cows.

* Feed high-energy, low-protein rations (UFL 0.93, 14% CP). Don’t forget the minerals.

* Even if the weather improves tomorrow, it will take at least two weeks before grass supply comes back to near normal levels, so these recommendations must be followed even after an improvement.

Get fertiliser out, as and when the weather permits.

Stretch the first rotation to April 10 in the south, and slightly later as you go north.