Grass Allocation/Allowance

Most farmers are keen to commence grazing in the spring as early as conditions allow. This date is influenced by a number of factors including grass supply, stocking rate, spring nitrogen application and calving pattern.

Some key points for consideration are:

Target grass cover at turnout should be around 3500 kg DM/ha or a grass height of 10 – 12 cm.

A post grazing height of 6 cm and a grazing cycle of 21 days has been recommended. This combination will allow acceptable herbage re-growth combined with grass intake without any loss of herbage quality.

Grazing to a grass height below 4.5 cm during this period will slow down future regrowth.

If ground conditions are not suitable, farmers if possible should not be forced into turning cows out early otherwise grass growth will suffer in the long term.