Nov 1st - How much of your farm is closed?

just do it

Due to torrential rain here over the last week all cattle went in yesterday morning. Where they were due to move to yesterday morning had a few mm of surface water so decided to house and hope to get out to graze at some stage in the next few weeks. So I've either 89% or 100% of the farm closed weather dependant.

mahoney_j

just do it wrote: »

Due to torrential rain here over the last week all cattle went in yesterday morning. Where they were due to move to yesterday morning had a few mm of surface water so decided to house and hope to get out to graze at some stage in the next few weeks. So I've either 89% or 100% of the farm closed weather dependant.

64% of milking block closed,things starting to get a small bit challenging due to wet weather and grazing heavy covers ,back grazing 12 hour blocks,pig tails and reels of wire.ground still holding up fairly well but a definite cut coming over last 2 or 3 days.still the extra work involved setting up grazing blocks beats feeding out silage and beeding cubicles for a few more weeks anyway

Mac Taylor

just do it wrote: »

Due to torrential rain here over the last week all cattle went in yesterday morning. Where they were due to move to yesterday morning had a few mm of surface water so decided to house and hope to get out to graze at some stage in the next few weeks. So I've either 89% or 100% of the farm closed weather dependant.

0% atm. Still grazing, but another week of this heavy rain will change that.

mahoney_j

just do it wrote: »

Due to torrential rain here over the last week all cattle went in yesterday morning. Where they were due to move to yesterday morning had a few mm of surface water so decided to house and hope to get out to graze at some stage in the next few weeks. So I've either 89% or 100% of the farm closed weather dependant.

64% of milking block closed,things starting to get a small bit challenging due to wet weather and grazing heavy covers ,back grazing 12 hour blocks,pig tails and reels of wire.ground still holding up fairly well but a definite cut coming over last 2 or 3 days.still the extra work involved setting up grazing blocks beats feeding out silage and beeding cubicles for a few more weeks anyway

Deepsouthwest

65% closed here. Cows going in by night tomo night, so the remaining 35% will be stretched out a bit longer now. Should equate to around 20-24 days grazing if the ground holds up, which I would be v happy with. Dry cows, incalf heifers and calves should stay out full time til late nov as well on outside blocks ,if the weather stays ok. Calves will get meal from tomorrow

Muckit

Yes got a lot of heavy rain this weekend. Temperatures slowly on way back but no frost. Have another few paddocks with covers like this. Don't think it would be a good idea to leave over the winter so grazing them off.

Realistically though I could be housing next weekend. Zero damage so far but that wouldn't be long changing if this raib continues.

To answer your question with paddocks all closed save two paddocks have cattle in. Will keep grazing until the weather says no. Over half the farm that won't be touched either way until new year.

Sam Kade

44% closed, I hope to keep grazing to mid December depending on the weather. If it gets very bad I could house half the herd and keep the other half grazing.

Greengrass1

Cows finishing grazing tomorrow. Calves have another 3-4 weeks.
Cover of 450 on Monday hope ill have a nice high cover come 1st feb with 30 cows to go to grass then

simx

90% closed

dzer2

only this yrs calves left out and lambs so 80% closed. Hoping to get another 25 lambs tho

Muckit

What are the highest covers lads would carry over the winter? Height in inches please, don't understand other measurements. Thanks.

Birdnuts

All closed now bar the sandy 5 acre right on the shore.

Charliebull

10% closed! cows on the last run will house next weekend
Weanlings still out

Freshly calved heifers still out and will be till Xmas

mahoney_j

What sort of an afc will lads close at???.i started closing on 02/10 and there is already 1350 cover in it and covers in paddocks closed after it are also strong due to excellent re growth .id usually close at about 700 but this year I'm tempted to close at something close to 850.reason been clean out so far has been excellent and covers are green right down milk price is dropping and even on off grazing next spring will boost solids and yield as well as reducing meal and production costs.and also numbers next spring will be 25% higher.tempted to go back to graze first 2 paddocks closed but head is telling me to leave them and I think I will as they will be of more value in February.

onyerbikepat

About 40% closed here. I havent even weaned the spring born calves yet. All were away from the home place till yesterday, so had to wait till that was grazed. Planned to wean yesterday but weather so bad it would be too risky. Will wait now till have decent good spell, if that comes.

Greengrass1

mahoney_j wrote: »

What sort of an afc will lads close at???.i started closing on 02/10 and there is already 1350 cover in it and covers in paddocks closed after it are also strong due to excellent re growth .id usually close at about 700 but this year I'm tempted to close at something close to 850.reason been clean out so far has been excellent and covers are green right down milk price is dropping and even on off grazing next spring will boost solids and yield as well as reducing meal and production costs.and also numbers next spring will be 25% higher.tempted to go back to graze first 2 paddocks closed but head is telling me to leave them and I think I will as they will be of more value in February.

Thought aim was to close at 550? Ive made a big cock up if its not

C4d78

Probably close at 600 AFC. 65%grazed now. Covers remaining are below 1500 so won't be long going through them. Will probably house by night within the next week.

mahoney_j

Greengrass1 wrote: »

Thought aim was to close at 550? Ive made a big cock up if its not

Beteeeen 600 and 800 I think is what's recommended gg.if your finished grazing in next few days with an afc of 550 you'll have loads of grass next feb considering where u are located and fact you'll be grazing little or nothing for next few weeks

Timmaay

75% grazed here, budgeting out the last few paddocks now. Started buffer feeding maize yesterday, the cows are slow to take to it annoyingly!

I haven't grass measured in afew weeks, but fantastic regrowths, have grazed some of the paddocks which were closed in Oct again, we'll come in close to the 550 AFC at a guess. I'm more approaching it from the other side, have eyed up 2 or 3 paddocks that are easily grazed in early feb, they have about 800 on them now, the trick now is holding back my dad from skinning them also now ha!

mahoney_j

Timmaay wrote: »

75% grazed here, budgeting out the last few paddocks now. Started buffer feeding maize yesterday, the cows are slow to take to it annoyingly!

Is it in pit long Timmay??.think it needs 3 or 4 weeks to ferment before feed out.

just do it

Muckit wrote: »

What are the highest covers lads would carry over the winter? Height in inches please, don't understand other measurements. Thanks.

As it is the cover in the picture is higher than the recommended 10-12cm. Therefore I reckon graze as much of those high covers as you can while you can

Timmaay

mahoney_j wrote: »

Is it in pit long Timmay??.think it needs 3 or 4 weeks to ferment before feed out.

In the pit just over a month now. Hmmm the neighbour was saying he feeds it almost as soon as it goes in the pit! I'll admit the maize is wet enough at the very front of the pit on the ground, we put in an extra bit of concrete on the front of the pit this year and do not have the drainage sorted, so it holds too much water. Couldnt have done any favours to let the maize ferment.

Deepsouthwest

Will prob close around 800, which would be a lot higher than other yrs, as much of a trial as anything else.

Base price

just do it wrote: »

Due to torrential rain here over the last week all cattle went in yesterday morning. Where they were due to move to yesterday morning had a few mm of surface water so decided to house and hope to get out to graze at some stage in the next few weeks. So I've either 89% or 100% of the farm closed weather dependant.

Really depends on your farm/livestock type and stocking density.
I bedded sheds on Thursday/Friday to allow groups of smaller/weaker weanlings access to dry lay due to the wet weather conditions. We housed an older batch of FR bulls/bullocks to the slatted sheds/stand off pad. Other than that all cattle are out on the home farm as we have our annual round test week after next. Fingers crossed if we are clear then the majority stock will head out to OH and mine out farms for winterage.
All the home farm is open with a good cover on the majority of fields/paddocks.
Thankfully due to the unseasonally mild weather grass is still growing.

Greengrass1

Deepsouthwest wrote: »

Will prob close around 800, which would be a lot higher than other yrs, as much of a trial as anything else.

Double what im closing at. As long as no snow arrives

kevthegaff

Closed 40% waiting on cubicle shed to be finished!! Weanlings out till 1st december on outfarm, replacements in this week

Deepsouthwest

Greengrass1 wrote: »

Double what im closing at. As long as no snow arrives

As I said it will be a lot higher than usual, might still pull back to 750, but prob not lower. Growth is generally slow in jan and feb on this farm, hoping to have a bit more of a wedge to let them out to nxt spring.

Farmer Pudsey

About 60% of farm closed rest will follow another 15-20% by end of next week and all will be closed by end of Nov. Cattle moving now through lighter covers on fields last grazed in September.

Mulumpy

65% closed here, maidens went in yesterday. Milkers will be in full time in two weeks will dry off then. Calves out til end of the month.

stanflt

70% of grazing platform for cows closed as of yesterday

50% of cattle ground closed and will struggle to graze out

Hope to keep some dry cows out till they calve in late jan maybe 30 or so- really dry ground with access to a shed for shelter

Will have to get stock out in feb to clean off silage ground so I'll have decent silage come May 1st next year if I don't silage will be down 5dmd as a result

frazzledhome

54% grazed as of today will hit 70 by wend. Cows will be housed by 20-25 Nov as a lot calving early and quick in Feb. Closing at 700 higher than usual.

Weanlings on 90 day rotation now, heifers will be housed by weekend. Have grass built up on non dairy ground that'll graze 50 cows for 60 days.

Edited from 120 to 90 day

rangler1

Will get it hard to graze mine down enough, early enough to get ninety days rest, Grass growing away here still, really only topping with ewes, will push them to graze harder next round when they're mid pregnancy

Greengrass1

New leys still growing at 45/day old ones 40 yrs + old only doing 6/7 a day.
Farm cover has dropoed to 440

frazzledhome

Greengrass1 wrote: »

New leys still growing at 45/day old ones 40 yrs + old only doing 6/7 a day.
Farm cover has dropoed to 440

You need to close down now Sorry graze any new leys ASAP cause old ones won't have grass in spring

ellewood

frazzledhome wrote: »

54% grazed as of today will hit 70 by wend. Cows will be housed by 20-25 Nov as a lot calving early and quick in Feb. Closing at 700 higher than usual.

Weanlings on 120 day rotation now, heifers will be housed by weekend. Have grass built up on non dairy ground that'll graze 50 cows for 60 days.

120 day rotation??

Greengrass1

frazzledhome wrote: »

You need to close down now Sorry graze any new leys ASAP cause old ones won't have grass in spring

Ye practicly finished. Had 15 ac stopped uo but i dont think i need to say what happened.
Calves still have 3ha of 1300 cover to go through

Milked out

Will be all closed on milking block by the end of the week. Just hope we get a dry spell early on to try and clear some of the covers that'll be on the wetter parts of the farm in spring. Have maidens and incalf heifers housed. Calves maybe another 2 weeks.

degetme

Milking block will be all closed within next two days. 1st paddocks closed last days of sept. Current cover approx 1300. Temptd to graze it but would be more important nxt spring at first chance of grazing. Young stock/cattle ground have 3 wks of grass left

keep going

Big slow down in regrowth s past couple of days .thinking of finishing grazing cows on the tenth and grazing the last couple of cow paddocks with weanlings

frazzledhome

ellewood wrote: »

120 day rotation??

Sorry 90, I've edited.

frazzledhome

keep going wrote: »

Big slow down in regrowth s past couple of days .thinking of finishing grazing cows on the tenth and grazing the last couple of cow paddocks with weanlings

Grew 19 this week, great for Nov. 14.5 grown to date may hit 15 which would be a record. Cows doing 1.3 kgms