Brian Reidy: Feeding and management of livestock once indoors

2025 silages are a mixed bag, like any other year, writes independent ruminant nutritionist Brian Reidy

Cattle spend up to 150 days eating silage each year on Irish beef and dairy farms, and if it is poor quality, the animal performance will either be poor or expensive.

As we head towards the middle of November, the majority of animals that will be housed for the winter around the country are now in. Most have run out of grass, are finding recent conditions difficult or are saving a pick for next spring.

It has been an excellent autumn and early winter season, and with so much grass around, there have been huge benefits to managing it and utilising it well, and this has hopefully shortened the winter for many farmers.