Beef Grazing 2022

My own inclination would be the FR first. The AA/HE will bomb away when you let them out and have a limited frame. Fr's will carry weight.

Only proviso is when you want to hang the AA/HE, if you want to slaughter them in May/ June I let them out first.

Grass has remained growing around here. Great covers on places closed since mid October. 1 or 2 colder paddocks are surprisingly me.

I have three bullocks outside for various reasons. I will definitely move them to a strong paddock as opposed to feeding silage. Will be slow to let off before early March. But may be tempted to let off 8-10 strong Friesian in 2-3 weeks time

Last few years March, April and early May have often been bad enough for cattle out and desperate for grass.

If it was 2 degrees and a steady easterly on April 1st or 20 degrees you couldn't be surprised either way.

If you can graze now, take the opportunity,

I've let them out in January at times but in at the evening.

Not every drystock farm has all land around sheds, one of my tenants grazes my land hard late feb early march, I believe he destroys it for the year but that's not my problem

Flexibility is key at the shoulders. I'm on heavy ground with pockets if dry. Yesterday I turned out 30 yearling heifers. If they have to come in due to weather so be it. Currently on paddocks and strip wires up. Getting enough grass for 24-36 hrs. The back fence is vital. Looking at them in the distance and half are lying down. Better of out when the weather plays ball

The amount of grass grown since November unbelievable. 2yr old cattle will do well to be out by march in a normal year.

@blue5000 could we transfer posts to a beef grazing 22 thread

What feeding is in grass now. The DM of the grass would be poor yet would it not? I’d say cattle would still be better on good silage for another month or 6 weeks.

Fencing is vital, ex dairy farm here with paddocks and roadways. Had the usual wire breaking on the exodus from the sheds. Over the past number of years I have struggle to get ground graze by may, with a priority to graze silage ground.

The cost of silage will be a huge dent in budgets for the coming year, with fert and rising diesel prices, was shocked the other when the diesel tank had to be filled.

Everyday of grazing now is a bonus and that's the way I'm viewing it.

End of August, would be stocked fairly low overall here. Cow to the acre roughly should last them 2 months. If weather comes very wet move through quicker, no worries with cold

N released from the min till method. Something to consider.

Let out a other batch of yearlings today. Cattle are very settled out and content. I know I will have to pull them back in when the weather turns a after all this dry weather

Won’t be out here till after paddy’s day. I’ll graze the silage ground first something I haven’t done in years.

Would the old grass reduce the quality?

Not sure of area you're grazing but it's hard to imagine 30 weanlings being able to keep up with growth, Whats your AFC?

Feck it, I hate the East wind.

Great drying for the ground of Longford and up the country tho with it, especially now at slurry time

If land was grazed late in the autumn and got a good cleaning it’ll make no difference. Usually don’t get silage grazed here before closing for silage. If it’s cut early enough (20th May) you’ll still have great silage. 75 dmd +.

Cut stuff two years ago that wasn’t grazed in the spring. It came back at 77dmd. It was rocket fuel.

Also saw one spring that we grazed it took forever to start growing because it got cold. The ground with a bit of cover kept tipping away.

Had 78 DMD here last year with an identical lead in.

You're suggesting making poor quality silage as a result of the price of fert?

I graze the silage ground here at the back end and again in the spring. Graze it down to nothing with milkers. Then take first cut at end of May early June. Works for us

Normally close mid April. Depends on the spring, we have heavy ground. 3 bags cut sward cut 6 weeks later.