The national average growth rate is at 62kg DM/ha/day. This means there has been no particular variation in the national average for the last seven weeks and we have been running above the 10-year average growth rate.

Soil temperatures had been running around 2°C to 4°C above normal over the last two to three weeks and these high soil temperatures, combined with mild nights and high soil moisture availability, have been the main reason for growth rates holding so strong. Over the last week however, soil temperatures have dropped off significantly and are back running pretty much on par with the normal – 15°C to 17°C. With soil temperatures dropping and nights getting longer and colder, don’t expect growth to stay above the 60kg DM/ha/day mark for much longer.

Conditions

While growth rate has held firm up until now, grass quality and ground conditions have been deteriorating. Ground conditions on heavy farms are at a critical stage now with heavy falls of rain and minimal drying over the last seven days not helping.

As mentioned last week, the key for managing wet ground is to keep cattle full. Hungry cattle make for unsettled cattle and if they start to travel, your paddock is finished. Graze fields or paddocks in sections, offering enough grass for just one day. If possible, do this in the evening – cattle can fill themselves and lie down for the night.

Thankfully, early indications suggest a warmer and drier weekend is in store.

In terms of grass quality, DMD% and protein should be good, but DM% and energy (sugars and digestible fibre) are decreasing. Beef stock or cull cows intended for finishing off grass need to be put onto concentrates now.

When doing the daily herding, there are a few health issues to consider. Grass is a lot softer and more lush now. On rapidly digestible, high-clover swards, watch out for bloat. Bloat oil added to drinking water is a common preventative measure, but sensible management should also work fine. For suckler cows, the low grass DM%, combined with cooler nighttime temperatures presents a higher grass tetany risk too.