Maximising summer feed utilisation and winter feed preparation

The ability to manage grass will usually form the cornerstone of any grazing system. Although managing this valuable resource may sound like a simple task, it is often not considered enough, writes MJ Doran, InTouch Feeding Specialist at Alltech Ireland.

Cows eat grass in the barn. A farm where cattle are bred. Cattle fattening for the production of milk and meat. Agricultural industry.

2024 is a year that has already brought a number of challenges with it. Met Éireann reports that this spring was the sixth-wettest on record. This hindered spring grazing on many farms nationwide and prolonged winter feeding regimens. 

A consequence of the prolonged winter is that many farms are now short of their winter-feeding reserves (and, in some cases, their summer feeding reserves), despite the first-cut silage harvest being completed. Many farmers will now ask, “How will I ensure that I have enough fodder in my yard for the upcoming winter?”