Is it too early to put my stock out?

Managing grass on beef farms is often different to dairy herds as on beef farms, as cattle are generally either in or out, writes independent ruminant nutritionist Brian Reidy.

The first grazing each spring is high in dry matter, has high fibre and has average energy content while having lower protein than any grazing throughout the rest of the year. 

After the recent cold spell and the rain in the current forecast, it would be nice to get a milder, more settled spell so that fieldwork can really get going. 

There is plenty of slurry to go out, while very little nitrogen is out yet. Most will also have a bit of fencing yet to do as it was not possible to travel fields to drive posts.