Management Notes

• Recorded growth on farms has been relatively good despite variable rainfall levels around the regions - all in all it's been a relatively good 'back end' to the grazing season.
• Modelled grass growth prediction is also surprisingly good for this stage of the season, with 25- 30 kgDM/day for the next 7 days then around 20 for the following week, so late season grazing can continue where feasible.
• If closing average farm cover is on target, and despite the ongoing fall-off in grass quality, try to keep some grazed grass in the diet to reduce pressure on scarce (and costly) winter forage stocks. N.b. ear-marked paddocks suitable for early spring grazing must now be closed. Avoid grazing paddocks closed at the start of Oct, as this grass will be needed moreso in the spring. Remember: approximately 80% of the grass grazed in February is grown in October.
• A suitable target average closing farm cover of 2,100kg – 2,150kg DM/ha should preserve enough grass supply for spring, leave the paddock covers with a 'shallow wedge', and minimise dead material at the base of swards to be carried over to spring.
• That's the final weekly bulletin for 2024 - we hope you have found the material of use, in what was another very challenging year for grazing. And many thanks to all the GrassCheckGB farmers who diligently provided figures on a weekly basis and to everyone behind the scenes who contributed to the weekly process. Let’s hope for a kind spring 2025!