This last week has seen the cows finally get a taste of fresh grass again after the long winter. It's always a time that is looked forward to , by both us and the cows . The mood generally lifts on the farm and the cows do genuinely get a spring in their step as they walk to the fields.They have been out during the days for the last week , and tonight they will be kept out at night too , with them now only getting buffer fed during milking times.
As much as it is lovely to see the cows outside , it does bring its own series of problems and issues that must be addressed as the season folds out. During the winter , i have had complete control over all aspects of the cows day, eg, water, food, environment, climate etc. Now, with them going outside , I have generally lost that control. How much are they eating? How much dry matter is in the diet ? Is the walk to the fields affecting their feet ? Will fertility improve now that they are out in their "natural" surroundings? Will body condition suffer as a result of different nutrition and improved milk yields.
Hopefully over the next couple of days , they will get onto a balanced buffer ration and yields will lift.
This year, Keenan are launching their "Pace At Grass" programme for their Pace box on the Keenan mixer wagons. This should give me more of a handle on just what the cows are getting out of the grass/buffer, and I should be able to regulate the amount of buffer needed to compensate for field differences , sward variation , weather etc.
The cows are all given a magnesium bolus when they go outside , just as a precaution against grass staggers. They are also fed high mag minerals for about the first week of grazing too .
Grass growth has been fairly good lately , with the weather being kind to both the land and the cows . Long may it continue , and then up will go the shout that we are looking for rain . We really are never satisfied with our lot when it comes to the good old British weather.
Silage fields are looking good ,although they are probably the fields that really could do with a good shower or two of rain. As with other years we will be looking to do silage first cut around the 18th - 20th May.
All youngstock are still inside , probably until the end of the month.
