Dry spell challenges Cork DairyBeef 500 farm
Extended dry weather is severely impacting grass growth and livestock management on a Cork DairyBeef 500 farm. Farmer Denis Hickey adapts by managing feed and grazing carefully while planning sales to ease pressure until rain arrives.
Source:
Teagasc Agricultural News
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⏱️ 2 min read
Denis Hickey, a participant in the DairyBeef 500 programme, has been contending with a prolonged dry spell on his Cork farm that has halted grass growth and left pastures bare. For nearly six weeks, the lack of significant rainfall has created tough conditions, forcing him to ration grass carefully and supplement the calves' diet with concentrates to maintain their growth.
The calves, weighed in July, show a wide range of weights from 110kg to 211kg, averaging 165kg, with an average daily gain of 0.8kg. Despite uniform management, some calves outperform others significantly. Heifers and steers have also been weighed recently, with heifers averaging 473kg and steers 473kg as of mid-summer, displaying solid weight gains but necessitating strategic decisions about sales to reduce grazing pressure during the drought.
Fertiliser application has been postponed until moisture returns, and slurry spreading is also delayed to avoid damaging the dry grass. The newly reseeded grass established well in late May but now needs rain to thrive again. Denis has taken preventative measures against weeds and lungworm among the stock and plans to finish some heifers indoors to reduce the impact of the dry weather. These careful management steps aim to maintain stock performance while preparing for improved conditions.
The calves, weighed in July, show a wide range of weights from 110kg to 211kg, averaging 165kg, with an average daily gain of 0.8kg. Despite uniform management, some calves outperform others significantly. Heifers and steers have also been weighed recently, with heifers averaging 473kg and steers 473kg as of mid-summer, displaying solid weight gains but necessitating strategic decisions about sales to reduce grazing pressure during the drought.
Fertiliser application has been postponed until moisture returns, and slurry spreading is also delayed to avoid damaging the dry grass. The newly reseeded grass established well in late May but now needs rain to thrive again. Denis has taken preventative measures against weeds and lungworm among the stock and plans to finish some heifers indoors to reduce the impact of the dry weather. These careful management steps aim to maintain stock performance while preparing for improved conditions.
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