Things to do when the land is dark

BY ANTHONY O’CONNOR

“WHEN the night has come, and the land is dark, and the moon is the only light you will see,” from the song Stand By Me by John Lennon, is an apt theme for early November with the time changing, the shortening days and the darkness descending earlier – it is a time to prepare land, livestock and farmyards for the winter.

Grassland

The 2017 grazing season starts now. Every day you extend the grazing season is a bonus. However, with grass rapidly dwindling, don’t let stock lose condition by leaving out too long. Avoid poaching of fields. Aim to have most stock housed by late November.

Fields closed in late November will not have a supply of grass available until late March or early April. Supplement stock at grass with concentrates where necessary. Graze paddocks down to 4cm and close. Weanlings, cull ewes etc can graze out paddocks. House heaviest stock first, i.e. dry suckler cows, unfinished beef cattle.

Lime: Apply any lime required on the basis of a soil test now, while weather and ground conditions allow. Lime will unlock any NPK in soil, making them available for plant growth.

New Leys: If ground conditions are favourable, a light grazing of reseeded pasture by stocksuch as weanlings/sheep can be undertaken. This will encourage tillering of the new sward overthe winter months. Ensure no poaching or overgrazing occurs.

Beef

Grass tetany: Suckler cows with late-born suckling calves can be left out until late November if they have good grass. These cows should have access to Magnesium licks to prevent grass tetany occurring.

Replacement heifers: Post weaning thrive needs to be maintained in selected replacements. They are the future of your herd. ADG (average daily gain) should be between 0.7 to 0.9kg per head/day. Continue to feed 1.0 to 2.0kgs per head/day of concentrates post weaning.   Your home bred or purchased heifers which need to be well developed and robust at mating time next year (weighing at least 370 to 430kg depending on heifer breed), while calving down at a minimum age of two years. If involved in the BDGP, these replacements should have a 4 or 5 star rating on the ICBF Eurostar Replacement Index.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.