Summary

• Spring grass can reduce the feed cost of early lactation cows when sufficient grass is present and weather and ground conditions are favourable.
• The digestibility of spring grass can be high and is influenced by the content of leaf material in the sward.
• High digestibility swards promote higher DMI and milk yields.
• Target grass cover at turnout should be close to 3500 kg DM/ ha with a grass height of 10 – 12 cm.
• Grazing should be limited to leave a post grazing grass height of 6 cm in order to maximise future re-growth. Grazing below 4.5 cm should be avoided at this time.
• Grass intakes in excess of 20 kg DM have been reported to be possible under ideal grazing conditions. However under normal circumstances will range from around 12 kg DM to at best 17 kg DM.
• Reductions in grass dry matter content to between 10 – 12% cause poor grazing conditions and can severely impair feed intake and thus production.
• During the grazing season difficult conditions necessitate the use of supplementary concentrates even for moderate levels of production due to the reduced intake.
• Target levels of milk production and fertility in early lactation cows cannot be supported by grass alone.
• Strategic use of concentrates at levels that match milk output can not only support milk production but result in dramatic improvements in reproductive performance when compared to grass alone.