Herd Tasks: Your weekly farming checklist
Continue to apply fertiliser to push grass on for extended grazing.
- Start looking at getting a silage analysis done. It is now time to begin planning for winter feeding.
- Continue to apply fertiliser to push grass on for extended grazing.
- Look at your plan to bank grass and avoid taking out grazing paddocks for bales from now on unless you are very lightly stocked.
- Get your straw supply in for the winter.
- Barley is obviously best for bedding, while barley, wheat, rye, triticale and oat are of equal value for feeding.
- Continue to treat stock for parasites where necessary, especially calves.
- If you have been buffering and now have ample grass, don’t pull the buffer abruptly. Gradually reduce it so that you maintain total intake and maintain performance.
- Autumn calving is underway or about to kick off. Newborn calves must get sufficient colostrum within the first 4-6 hrs of life.
- Keep mag licks with fresh cows.
- Get calves to be weaned, castrated and dosed well in advance.
- Advanced stock are being fed at grass presently. Low-protein, high-energy meal is sufficient for this purpose. 3-4kg will benefit all finishers on good grass.
- If grass is poor or scarce, then up to 6kg may be required.
- Consider bringing fat stock to marts as factory agents are willing to bid strongly for them there at present. It is, at long last, a seller’s market.
