Plan now for an early start for first-cut
The ground is still delicate after all the rain, but planning must start now to get first-cut off to an early start, writes ruminant nutritionist Brian Reidy.
As I write, I am looking out at my cows and calves grazing for the first time since October 18 last year. It has been a long winter, and it isn’t over just yet, going by the forecast. I have been surprised as to how well the ground here has held up since I turned them out. Time will tell if I can leave them out, fingers crossed.
As we head rapidly towards Easter and the beginning of April, forage production planning for next winter must be on all livestock producers' minds. Stocks are low on most farms at this point and reducing rapidly. It’s almost like the cattle know you are short of feed and up their appetite, so as to stress you just that little bit more!Â
