The targets to maximise grass utilisation and minimise costs during the main grazing season

Grass 10 advisor Joseph Dunphy joins Emma-Louise Coffey on this week’s episode of The Dairy Edge to remind us of the important targets to maximise grass utilisation and minimise costs during the main grazing season. Joseph acknowledges the difficult grazing conditions experienced in recent weeks, particularly for farms in heavy rainfall areas and on heavier soils where on/off grazing techniques have been a feature of grazing management. He explains that growth rates have increased to an average of 66 kg DM/ha and this is projected to increase further in the coming week as temperatures rise. Joseph recommends that farmers maintain a pre-grazing cover of 1,400 kg and farm cover of 160-180 kg/cow. He explains that there is approximately 0.5 units of background Nitrogen available to support grass growth and therefore, farmers should follow the cows with a further 20 units of protected Urea with sulphur during June and July to support high grass growth. For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/ The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com