Recent rain hasn’t slowed things down too much — grazing’s holding up well as we head into autumn. Now’s a good time to check your silage quality, keep an eye on calf health, and get your herd ready for breeding.
CURRENT SITUATION
- Grazing Holding Strong. Grazing conditions are generally good, with recent rainfall not significantly impacting ground accessibility. Autumn grazing is expected to continue without major limitations.
- Residuals & Supplement Management. Heavy supplement feeding and changing grass palatability are making residuals tricky. Accurate area allocation and supplement balancing are key to achieving effective graze-out.
- Warm Soils Supporting Growth. Soil temperatures remain high, which is helping to sustain grass growth for now. This is a positive sign for pasture availability in the short term.
- Winter Forage Boost. Favourable growing conditions have allowed for late cuts of winter forage. Many farmers are also mitigating potential shortages through strategic feed purchases.
- Mixed Breeding Results. Spring 6-week in-calf rates are strong, ranging from good to excellent. However, some herds are still seeing stubbornly high final empty rates despite early success.
- Calf Health Concerns. Cases of calf pneumonia and cryptosporidiosis have been reported in some regions. These health issues may require closer monitoring and veterinary input.
LOOKING AHEAD – NOVEMBER PLANNING
- Silage Quality Watch. Late-cut silage may have lower dry matter percentages. Ensure effluent systems are ready to handle the increased moisture content.
- Breeding Prep Essentials. Autumn breeding prep should include monitoring pre-mating heats and checking that collars and tags are functioning accurately. Technology reliability is crucial for success.
- Manual Detection Still Valuable. For herds without tech, tail painting and manual heat detection remain effective. These methods help ensure no heats are missed during mating.
- Body Condition Strategy. Lean cows may benefit from once-a-day milking to improve body condition. This can support better breeding outcomes or prepare cows for dry-off.
- Pneumonia: A Deeper Look. Even a few pneumonia cases warrant investigation. Subclinical infections can weaken calf immunity and affect long-term herd performance. Lung scanning can help to pinpoint problematic periods for your calf rearing system and vet consultation is recommended.
- Winter Feed Budget Check. Recalculate your winter feed budget considering late silage and autumn growth/AFC contributions. Ensure you have enough feed to carry your herd through to spring turnout.
Please contact the Pasture to Profit team for support or if you have any questions.
