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Spring turnout is a balance between capturing early grass to stimulate growth and reduce supplements being fed and protecting soil structure and sward density. Decisions made now will strongly influence grass utilisation, costs, and profitability once spring arrives. With good grass availability carried over winter on many farms and ongoing milk price pressure, a proactive approach is essential.
Current Situation as We Head Toward Spring
1. Grass Supply
Many farms are carrying good quantities of grass heading into late winter, with average farm cover (AFC) generally higher than normal for this time of year. This puts farms in a strong position for spring, but there are early warning signs.
Some paddocks with high pre‑grazing covers are beginning to show signs of quality deterioration. If left unmanaged, this could reduce utilisation and animal performance once grazing ramps up. Managing covers now will help protect grass quality into early spring.
2. Winter Forage Stocks
Winter forage stocks remain variable across the country, largely reflecting how dry conditions were last season. While some farms are comfortable, others are tighter and still relying on supplementation.
Earlier milk prices allowed many farmers to buy in feed to get through winter, but with current milk price pressure, this strategy needs to be reassessed. Purchased feed must now be used strategically, with a clear focus on return on investment.
Key Actions to Focus on as Spring Arrives
1. Walk the Farm and Assess Ground Conditions
Late winter ground conditions can limit grazing opportunities if not properly understood.
- Walk the farm regularly to identify areas that will be suitable for early grazing
- If soils are wet, dig inspection holes to determine whether:
- Soils are at field capacity, or
- A compaction layer is restricting water movement
Understanding this now allows you to plan grazing rotations that protect soil structure and avoid damage as spring growth begins.
2. Get Your Spring Rotation Planner Ready
Now is the time to prepare — not when spring is already underway.
- Ensure your spring rotation planner is fully set up and up to date
- Make sure all relevant staff understand:
- How it works
- Why it matters
- How to adjust it as growth rates change
A refresher on using the spring rotation planner can be found here in the below video. Having this system ready will help you control covers, maintain quality, and set up grass supply for the entire season.
NOTE: This video was originally filmed in Jan 2021 however still remains entirely relevant.
3. Prepare People and Systems for Calving and Breeding Spring Calvers
Spring Calvers
With spring calving underway:
- Be clear on:
- What records must be captured
- Where they are recorded
- Why accurate data is important
Good records, improves animal health outcomes, and supports better fertility and performance later in the season.
Autumn Calvers
For autumn‑calving herds, next month is an ideal time to:
- Review final fertility results
- Carry out a breeding review
- Identify opportunities to improve submission rates, conception, and calving spread for the next cycle
4. Review Budgets Ahead of Spring Spend
With ongoing milk price pressure, financial discipline will be crucial this season.
- Review budgets now, before spring costs increase
- Reassess feed plans and supplementation strategies
- Focus on cost control to protect margins
Clear budgeting ahead of spring allows better decision‑making once workload and demand increase.
5. Plan for a Grass Rich Spring System
As spring approaches, the priority must be to maximise grass quality and quantity within your production system.
- Make grass growth and utilisation the central focus
- Manage covers to protect quality
- Align stocking rate and demand with expected growth
Grass will again be the cheapest and most profitable feed available. Acting now ensures you are ready to fully capitalise on it when growth accelerates.
By preparing grazing plans, people, finances, and systems now, farms can enter spring with confidence
and control ready to turn grass growth into performance and profit.
