Listing the ins and outs of suckler herd winter housing

Conditions have deteriorated since last week. As a result, grass utilisation has dropped on most land types.

Paddocks have been grazed out really well lately, which will help with grass quality next spring.

However, at this time of the year, you must appreciate that grass is low in dry matter and, as a result, total dry matter intakes are declining for all stock. This means that animal performance will not be what it had been earlier in the year. This must be taken into account when deciding what animals should remain out to graze it.