Buffer feed 50% of diets on worst drought-hit farms

Teagasc's fodder survey showed 14% of farms have a significant shortfall in winter fodder supplies (vs 6%-10% in a normal year), with a further 25% reporting a 10-20% shortfall.

Silage and concentrates are accounting for close to half of the diet of dairy cows in the worst drought-affected areas, data brought before a recent national fodder meeting has revealed.

Presenting to the meeting convened by agriculture minister Martin Heydon on August 18, Dr Michael O’Donovan, head of the Grassland Science Department in Teagasc, provided a grass growth and fodder budget update.

Dr O’Donovan explained the data, which was collected through PastureBase Ireland, showed a very significant reduction in grass growth on many farms, especially in Leinster and Munster.

To date in 2026, annual grass growth has been 8.2t DM/ha on farms recording through PastureBase Ireland. Albeit the average was similar to the five-year average, a noticeable dip in grass growth has been recorded since mid-July.

Given the decline in grass growth rates, Dr O’Donovan told the committee significant supplementary feeding was ongoing in affected regions, with close to 50% of dairy cows’ diets consisting of supplementary silage and concentrates (equally split between both) across Munster and Leinster.

When compared to normal feeding rates (16kg of grass and 3kg of concentrate), this supplementary feeding (4-5kg of silage and 5kg of concentrates) is resulting in additional costs at farm level of about €1.90/cow day or €1,330/week for a 100-cow herd. For the worst-affected farmers, however, cost increases of €3.00-3.50/day may be being experienced.

Dr O’Donovan also presented summary data from fodder budgets in PastureBase Ireland and the wider Teagasc Fodder Survey.

Preliminary findings show fodder stocks for next winter are currently less than required, at 4.1 months' feed on average across the country, with 4.4 months in Connaught/Ulster, 4.2 months in Munster and 4.0 months Leinster. 

Teagasc's fodder survey showed 14% of farms have a significant shortfall in winter fodder supplies (vs 6%-10% in a normal year), with a further 25% reporting a 10-20% shortfall.

“The longer the drought persists, the more fodder stocks will be diminished, and the worst-affected counties are Kilkenny, Laois, Carlow, Kildare, Wexford, Wicklow, Tipperary, Waterford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath and North Cork,” Dr O’Donovan said.

If not already completed, Dr O’Donovan encouraged farmers to complete a fodder budget through PastureBase Ireland to keep track of feed stocks used and to regularly update the budget to keep on top of the ongoing situation.