What is being described as “incessant rainfall” across most of the country is leading to “some serious issues” on beef and dairy farms in terms of fodder supply, bedding supply, slurry storage and grazing.
Teagasc’s DairyBeef 500 programme manager Alan Dillon has recently highlighted some of the issues that the prolonged wet conditions are having on beef farms across Ireland.
He said: “While we often had wet springs into April before, the fact that some parts of the country housed stock in early September has caused problems, with seven months of foddering completed already.”
He noted that many beef farms have not begun grazing yet and, with no sign of dry weather as of yet, “farmers must take action swiftly if fodder supply is running out”.
“While conditions can change very fast this time of year, we all remember the disaster that was 2018 when rain never stopped through April and fodder had to be imported.”
He advised that farmers who have less than two weeks fodder remaining, especially on heavy ground, “need to look at sourcing an additional week to 10 days of feed as an insurance policy”.
“Clay-type soils will take a week to dry at least when it does dry up and farmers may need to hold heavier stock such as suckler cows or two-year-old cattle in until this happens.
“Talk to your neighbours who may have some fodder to spare, transporting long distances adds big cost to fodder so the nearer to home it is, the better,” he added.
Silage ground on beef farms
At this stage, if silage ground has not been grazed and is unlikely to be grazed in the next week, “it is probably best to accept this practice will not happen and close up silage ground as it stands”.
“If ground remains untrafficable for the next two weeks with fertiliser, look at spreading a lower level of nitrogen, say 60-70 units/ac and aim to cut early to mid May,” he suggested.
“Grazing silage ground into mid-April and cutting in June will result in lower-quality silage and increased meal costs over the winter for priority stock.
“There will be many farms who haven’t grazed any ground yet who will take out silage as soon as ground dries, so as to correct the rotation. This silage should be excellent quality once preserved correctly and can be used for finishing stock in the winter ahead.”
Bedding supply
The Teagasc DairyBeef 500 programme manager said that “the inability to turn out calved cows will put bedding supply under pressure with a higher straw demand in the creep areas and calving pens”.
He advised farmers to try source some extra bales locally – if running low.
“It won’t take an artic load to get someone over the line but 5-10 bales may be all that’s needed. It is important not to skimp on bedding as it can lead to scour and pneumonia outbreaks in young calves,” he explained.
Herd health on beef farms
Dillon noted that this spring “is another bad one in terms of calf-health issues”.
He explained that the constant damp air and changing temperatures “plays havoc with calves in terms of pneumonia issues and scour outbreaks”.
“Keep a close eye on calves and treat any calf that shows signs of a health stress, droopy ears, sunken eyes, off their feed etc.
“Check the temperatures of calves that appear off form and consult with your vet as to appropriate treatments.”
He also said that overcrowding in sheds becomes an issue on suckler-beef farms with most cows calved at this stage and asked: ‘Is there any other sheds available on site that could accommodate a few extra stock to take the pressure of the main suckler sheds?’
Keep an eye out for your neighbours
The Teagasc advisor highlighted that these extreme weather events are “very stressful on livestock but also on the farmers themselves”.
“Keep an eye on your fellow farmers in the local community and ask them how they are faring out. Some may not have many others to share their problems with. It may even help them to find a solution to a small problem.”