Winter feed assessment: Act now and plan for winter ahead

Your winter feed assessment should be based on how many animals you intend to keep for the winter period.

Prepare a fodder budget

The winter housing period will depend on your location, system and soil. Review the length of time you plan to keep animals indoors and allow a buffer for weather uncertainties.

Table 1: Click here for a guide on how to calculate the fodder demand on your farm.

Winter feed

Pits should be measured (length x breadth x average height in metres) to calculate volume of silage.

The estimated feed in the pit will vary due to dry matter (DM). Drier silage will have less fresh weight per cubic metre but will actually contain more feed due to reduced water content.

Table 2: Estimated fresh weight of forage per m³ of settled silage pits (based on 22% DM silage).

Compare your feed requirements (Table 1) with your stocks (Table 2) to assess if you have sufficient feed in stock and take action if needed.

Act now to fill a potential feed gap

Options if you anticipate a winter feed deficit:

Use remaining N and P allowances to: 1) Increase growth on grazing ground and take out surplus bales and 2) Grow a third cut of silage;
Use slurry (LESS) to increase NPK to supply to paddocks and silage area;
Increase grazing rotation length to 25 to 30 days in August to build grass and extend autumn grazing;
Rent land for a six to eight week period for third cut;
Source silage or hay for sale;
Feed concentrates at grass to cattle that are close to finish;
Look at the option of growing forage crops;
Purchase whole crop or maize silage;
Purchase beet (where you have appropriate machinery to feed);
Sell some stock earlier than planned, including all cull cows;
Finish some stock on minimum roughage and ad-lib ration;
Complete a cash flow budget and seek additional finance early.

Assess your fertiliser allowance

Farmers are required to operate within fertiliser nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) allowances;
In line with nitrates regulations;
P allowances are dependent on soil test results. An accurate assessment of the allowance should be calculated with a Nutrient Management Plan based on soil test results. Your local advisor can help with this;
N allowances are simpler to calculate on most farms based on stocking rate on the grassland area. The N fertiliser allowance for the farm can be estimated using Tables 3 and 4.

Table 3: N allowances/ha based on grassland stocking rate

Table 4: Estimate fertiliser N allowance on grassland

Calculations shown are intended as a guide and will vary where farms include tillage crops and where organic manures are imported and exported.

Contact your advisor for a definitive estimate of your fertiliser N and P allowance for 2024.

The remaining allowance on the farm can be calculated by comparing the N in fertilisers applied year to date with the overall allowance for the farm.

Double check fertiliser allowances with landowners who have land available for third cut – they may have allowance remaining, but must adhere to these limits also.

Fertiliser for grass growth in August and September

Plan fertiliser applications now on grazing paddocks and silage ground to take best advantage of grass growth conditions in the coming months;
Apply N and P fertiliser within maximum allowances;
There is no restriction on applications of potassium (K) or sulphur (S) where required;
Maximise the growth on grazing paddocks and take a third cut if possible.

Advice for grazing

Apply N for 1.2kg N/ha/day (56kg N/ha = 45 units/ac) from August 1 to mid-Sept;
Front load N in August (2/3) and target paddocks with good soil fertility or recently reseeded for best response;
Reduce rates in swards with good clover content.

Advice for third-cut silage