Growing grass in winter

It is easy to see the difference in pasture quality and quantity between farms through winter.  Some farms, even at high stocking rates, seem to be able to offer a substantial feed base to their herd in late winter.

There are a number of management strategies that these farms commonly adopt to achieve this.
  1. High soil fertility
  2. Regular nitrogen applications through winter (1kg of N/ha/day).
  3. A long rotation after the autumn break followed by a medium rotation of 20-25 days through winter.
  4. Adequate levels of supplementary hay and grain feeding depending on stocking rate and production level.
  5. A spring calving group which takes pressure off the farm in August.
  6. Regular oversowing program.
  7. Annual rye grass crops.
  8. Broadleaf control.
  9. Use of a feed pad in wet conditions.

A combination of several of these is a sound risk management strategy.  It is always easy in early winter after a good start, to have a false sense of security and not plan for wet conditions.

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