Grass growth (lack of)

[livestock 1]

I have some cows out most still in half of what’s out on beet and silage. There’s other issues to turning cows out not just grass- lambing still lambing where the cows are going -east wind cold and dry lost one cow with staggers in one batch that’s out so darent turn any out at the moment- no point in turning too many out until it rains as we will be carting silage for miles

 

[M-J-G]

Well considering you have your cows out are you rubbing all our noses in it?

Most of them are eating silage outside but it's dry so they are better out than in.
They just went out to save work, save straw (in case straw is scarce this year) and give the calves a cleaner more healthy for them.
Only about 1/5 of the grassland is stocked so the rest is free to let it grow, just some paddocks with cows on them.

I'm guessing everyone will be in a position to have dry enough land to put cows outside at the moment, so I don't see that as anything to brag about, it just a case of managing things to suit.

Don't you have dry enough land to have cows out?

 

[onthehoof]

Yes. That's what I meant. We had a field undersown last year. When we combined it, was full of chickory and clover. Can't find much of anything at the moment. Grass is there.

We had a nice bit of clover in most fields in 2017, the 2018 drought killed 90% of it and its not come back

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Most of them are eating silage outside but it's dry so they are better out than in.
They just went out to save work, save straw (in case straw is scarce this year) and give the calves a cleaner more healthy for them.
Only about 1/5 of the grassland is stocked so the rest is free to let it grow, just some paddocks with cows on them.

I'm guessing everyone will be in a position to have dry enough land to put cows outside at the moment, so I don't see that as anything to brag about, it just a case of managing things to suit.

Don't you have dry enough land to have cows out?

Of course it’s dry enough...it’s like bell metal
I just don’t want to turn them out until there’s enough grass in front of them...I don’t like feeding cows outside....I have 40 odd cows outside in a hard standing paddock that calved a month ago and they are getting silage in a ring feeder but not letting them or the rest out yet....normally everything would be out by now

 

[DB67]

Central Scotland and need rain to get the grass going again. Fields with stock on them getting barer by the day, and it had an early dose of N which did kick in but rain required to work with the warmth we’ve had.

 

[Bill the Bass]

Cows been out a month this weekend here, just a few stragglers left in and one with a stifle injury. No grass on the drier land though, it’s going white. I will be more bothered about staggers when it starts raging as grass will rocket, so we might start feeding a little straw this week.

 

[Werzle]

Rain forcast here tomorrow afternoon and tuesday looks very wet , warm soil and warm rain should see the grass take off. Everything out here bar a few stragglers, if this dry spell carried on for another three weeks i would be turning the cows into silage fields.

 

[Werzle]

Cows been out a month this weekend here, just a few stragglers left in and one with a stifle injury. No grass on the drier land though, it’s going white. I will be more bothered about staggers when it starts raging as grass will rocket, so we might start feeding a little straw this week.

Rough hay would be better. Cows havent touched the mag licks while outside this year

 

[Dave6170]

Chucked our cows out for calving. Theyre still getting silage but im fed up of mucking out and bedding. Clover is just starting to grow here.
Geese have gone away with a lot of grass around here!

 

[M-J-G]

Of course it’s dry enough...it’s like bell metal
I just don’t want to turn them out until there’s enough grass in front of them...I don’t like feeding cows outside....I have 40 odd cows outside in a hard standing paddock that calved a month ago and they are getting silage in a ring feeder but not letting them or the rest out yet....normally everything would be out by now

I prefer feeding cows outside to feeding, bedding and scraping them inside in good weather.

 

[livestock 1]

I don’t think cattle do much good outside on silage waiting for the grass to grow but there you go that’s just my thoughts and observations

 

[M-J-G]

I don’t think cattle do much good outside on silage waiting for the grass to grow but there you go that’s just my thoughts and observations

I can't tolerate cattle inside in settled dry weather.

Out of interest what difference to you think it makes if they are eating silage outside as opposed to indoors?

I ask because I've kept over a hundred cows out all winter (which in theory means they are outside eating sliage waiting for grass to grow) and they generally do better than the ones that are housed.

 

[livestock 1]

I can't tolerate cattle inside in settled dry weather.

Out of interest what difference to you think it makes if they are eating silage outside as opposed to indoors?

I ask because I've kept over a hundred cows out all winter and they generally do better than the ones that are housed.

I don’t know!
Probably the same sort of reason why inlamb ewes go stale inside at this time of year!
Does there have to be a reason?
I wasn’t talking about outwintered cattle I was talking about housed cattle turned out

 

[M-J-G]

I don’t know!
Probably the same sort of reason why inlamb ewes go stale inside at this time of year!
Does there have to be a reason?
I wasn’t talking about outwintered cattle I was talking about housed cattle turned out

If you're noticing them doing worse there's likely a reason, I was just curious.

We've got about 60 or so cows out that were inside that have been turned out for 2 to 3 weeks which are going grand.

I generally keep them tight for grass and give them hay or haylage so that the calf can keep on top of the milk and the cow doesn't partly dry herself off by bagging up, then move them into better grass as the calves get bigger.

 

[livestock 1]

If you're noticing them doing worse there's likely a reason, I was just curious.

We've got about 60 or so cows out that were inside that have been turned out for 2 to 3 weeks which are going grand.

I generally keep them tight for grass and give them hay or haylage so that the calf can keep on top of the milk and the cow doesn't partly dry herself off by bagging up, then move them into better grass as the calves get bigger.

I only turn some out as they calve as we run out of room having them penned up. Also better for scour and joint Ill if they are out. To be fair they have done well out this time and have improved but often that’s not the case just paddling along getting silage and chewing at a bit of grass. I think it’s just how it is. Outwintered cattle don’t seem to suffer the same sort of stagnation. I’m probably the earliest one to turn beast out in this area. Most of the rest are late May.

 

[ffukedfarmer]

I’ve got a new barbecue coming Monday. When I ordered it the forecast was for wall to wall dry weather, now it’s suddenly changed. Not that I’m complaining, just hope it knows when to stop.

 

[Woolless]

Yes. That's what I meant. We had a field undersown last year. When we combined it, was full of chickory and clover. Can't find much of anything at the moment. Grass is there.

Clover needs a higher temperature to grow. If you can see some I wouldn't give up hope yet.

 

[livestock 1]

We are having a good lambing here so apart from the lack of grass, staggers, black quarter we can’t complain compared to what we could be enduring

 

[Northeastfarmer]

We are having a good lambing here so apart from the lack of grass, staggers, black quarter we can’t complain compared to what we could be enduring

Perfect lambing weather

 

[bobk]

25th of April 2016 , it was snowing here .