Strong grass milk yield drop

Sam Kade

I've the cows grazing strong grass over the last 2 weeks and they have dropped almost a gallon a cow over that time even though they are getting 4kgs of meal. There's fresher grass ahead but I didn't think they would drop that much with the meal. I've also taken out strong paddocks but have no other choice to graze a certain amount of strong grass. I wonder will they jump back up on the fresher grass or will they drop as normal?

whelan2

What nut are you on? At this stage they are 4-5 months calved and it could be hard to get them back up to were they where. Messing about here and they are on good grass at night and on strong grass during the day, lessening the hit a bit

freedominacup

Sam Kade wrote: »

I've the cows grazing strong grass over the last 2 weeks and they have dropped almost a gallon a cow over that time even though they are getting 4kgs of meal. There's fresher grass ahead but I didn't think they would drop that much with the meal. I've also taken out strong paddocks but have no other choice to graze a certain amount of strong grass. I wonder will they jump back up on the fresher grass or will they drop as normal?

What was restricting your choices?

Milked out

They would drop but a gallon seems a lot, what meal are you feeding? Are you forcing them to graze it tight? If so I'd ease off a bit a top the paddock after them.

Sam Kade

whelan2 wrote: »

What nut are you on? At this stage they are 4-5 months calved and it could be hard to get them back up to were they where. Messing about here and they are on good grass at night and on strong grass during the day, lessening the hit a bit

Milked out wrote: »

They would drop but a gallon seems a lot, what meal are you feeding? Are you forcing them to graze it tight? If so I'd ease off a bit a top the paddock after them.

Standard dairy nut around 16% protein. Not grazing tight and topping after.

Sam Kade

freedominacup wrote: »

What was restricting your choices?

Grass took off, low stocking rate.

whelan2

Sam Kade wrote: »

Grass took off, low stocking rate.

Get some sheep

Sam Kade

whelan2 wrote: »

Get some sheep

They would be better than cows this year

kevthegaff

Some of my ground is too high to bale similar issue, cows leaving gluts of grass behind but topping afterwards. Perhaps graze replacements on heavy swards unable to bale. Have pulled 5 fields myself waiting for fine weather

Water John

Whelan's 'messing about' strategy is good. alternate grazing strong and good grass. Pre topping might get a good feed off it too.

Timmaay

Milked out wrote: »

They would drop but a gallon seems a lot, what meal are you feeding? Are you forcing them to graze it tight? If so I'd ease off a bit a top the paddock after them.

Back in 2013 when we'd just after lost 50acres I decided we needed to go for a decent 2nd cut, that was a big mistake ha, ended up a hoor of a drought, and I had to graze back the most of it, the cows milked utterly dirt off it, probably more than a gallon on average, good cows recovered afterwards however many average cows and heifers really took their time to come back up. If your swimming with grass as is I'd defo be doing as whelan did, one grazing on it, one on as leafy stuff as you can, and then just top anything left on it. I'd make zero effort to clean it out tho, the rotation length sounds long enough as is. I'm not being hugely productive saying this either, but as far as your grazing block goes being understocked is a hell of alot harder to manage than being overstocked in my view, being overstocked you just horse in a leafy bale or extra pull of nuts, understocked you can chase your tail all summer like this.

mf240

Grazing strong grass here too and they are back a bit. I started promowing last night. (father says I need to get a hobby) will report on results.

Should of topped last round but I was afraid if it stayed dry it would stall growth (it didn't stay dry)

greenfield21

Protein dropped a bit hear alright, skipped on to some very light swards for next few days. Slow return on heavier covers that where topped. Probably should have been skipped.

whelan2

Water John wrote: »

Whelan's 'messing about' strategy is good. alternate grazing strong and good grass. Pre topping might get a good feed off it too.

Teagasc or the other experts probably wouldnt agree with my plan but its working for me.

Ruxin

Was in strong grass last weekend early part of week took a bit hit in yield almost a gallon a cow. Went in to after grass later in the week cows recovered well on last collection. Always find its better to take out any strong covers for bales what ever the forecast at least you can feed them the bales when things get tight.

mf240

whelan2 wrote: »

Teagasc or the other experts probably wouldnt agree with my plan but its working for me.

Sure there only in teagasc because one of their siblings got the farm:cool::D

Water John

Ouch!

6270red

Same happened to me under stocked grass took off and bang 200lts gone out of the tank and protein gone wallop. Was premowing heavy covers when the solids dropped and ltrs dropped when they went into graze heavy covers.
Giving them a fresh break of grass after every milking now two different paddocks. Clean out is ok but the tank is up 150lts and solids slowly lifting too.
Not spreading any fert after cows last 3 weeks and topping. Might have to spread a bit when growth slows.

alps

Sam Kade wrote: »

I've the cows grazing strong grass over the last 2 weeks and they have dropped almost a gallon a cow over that time even though they are getting 4kgs of meal. There's fresher grass ahead but I didn't think they would drop that much with the meal. I've also taken out strong paddocks but have no other choice to graze a certain amount of strong grass. I wonder will they jump back up on the fresher grass or will they drop as normal?

You need to get to good grass covers of 1300/1500 immediatly, not only for milk yield but if you continue to wade through heavy covers, your rotation will slow to such an extent that all you will have ahead of you is heavy covers.

The only reason to feed a heavy cover, is if there is not enough ahead. Pre mowing a heavy cover murders the cows, they will have no capacity to selectively graze and will eat too much rubbish.

Removing the excess of course is expensive also and you could.do without such bills this year, but it would immediately give you the chance to get back on track.

anotherservant

6270red wrote: »

Same happened to me under stocked grass took off and bang 200lts gone out of the tank and protein gone wallop. Was premowing heavy covers when the solids dropped and ltrs dropped when they went into graze heavy covers.
Giving them a fresh break of grass after every milking now two different paddocks. Clean out is ok but the tank is up 150lts and solids slowly lifting too.
Not spreading any fert after cows last 3 weeks and topping. Might have to spread a bit when growth slows.

Happened me a few years back. Won't pull the fert again... better off going in with a pinch to keep the power in the grass

RightTurnClyde

Sam Kade wrote: »

They would be better than cows this year

Skip on to better covers. Get the heavy ones baled. There's going to be another bust of growth in the next couple of days with this rain and heat. You'll end up with a mountain of heavy grass in front of them if you don't move on.

I had to graze 3 heavy paddocks for 5 days, a week ago.( low on grass) Yield dropped but solids held. Yield well back up now and solids moving up slowly. They'll recover if you don't keep them wading for too long.

6270red

anotherservant wrote: »

Happened me a few years back. Won't pull the fert again... better off going in with a pinch to keep the power in the grass

agree defo don't have as leafy stuff without the fert.

hurling_lad

6270red wrote: »

agree defo don't have as leafy stuff without the fert.

How low would you go with the fert? I've never gone with less than half a bag even if I'm swimming in grass but would be interested to know if I would still get an effect if I put out less.

Buford T. Justice XIX

6270red wrote: »

agree defo don't have as leafy stuff without the fert.

Yeah, you need to put out some bit of fert or the grass will get stressed and start heading out early especially if you are prone to drought.

6270red

hurling_lad wrote: »

How low would you go with the fert? I've never gone with less than half a bag even if I'm swimming in grass but would be interested to know if I would still get an effect if I put out less.

Turned the vicon spreader down to 12 on paddocks three weeks ago and got good regrowth. That was less then half a bag. Not prone to drought here so lots of moisture in ground, with the heat 2weeks ago grass took off.
Made loads of paddock bales last yr so have surplus. Money ain't in it this year to be spreading fert and making bales. Quality ain't as good as other years but I'm not too worried. Will go with small amount again after next round.

Water John

Would swing more to sulphur than N. N basically gives you water.

whelan2

OP did you change anything ?

Sam Kade

whelan2 wrote: »

OP did you change anything ?

Yeah they are in shorter grass now and milk yield is coming up slowly.