Herd Notes: How to make the most of this year's great grazing conditions

We've been blessed with a great start to the year, so it's important to make the most of it, writes independent ruminant nutritionist Brian Reidy.

There is a lot of grass out there, and utilisation is excellent already.

It is not hard to notice the amount of cattle that are now out grazing. Most dairy herds in the southern half of the country have their milkers out by day, while many are looking at going out by night or at least for a few hours after the evening milking. There is a lot of grass out there, and utilisation is excellent. 

Many need to graze off some grass to have somewhere to go with slurry. Plenty of suckler herds have turned some cows and calves out. A lot of weanlings have also been turned out to grass in ideal conditions for their introduction to the great outdoors for 2023.