Turn-out: Choice or Necessity?

Friday 13th March 2009

Beware the ‘TIDES’ of March! For while the month of March can provide a smattering of glorious days it can also bring heavy rain and a throw-back to winter, playing havoc when thinking of turning-out the herd.

Are you planning to turn-out? Or are you having to turn-out? Do you know if you have enough forage left or if you have enough grazing to successfully turn-out? Now is the time to take a brief step back and assess your needs for everything that March may throw at us.

“Expect a hundred cows to eat approximately five tonnes of winter forage per day,” says Dr Robin Hawkey, Feed and Forage Technical Manager at Cornwall Farmers. “How many tonnes are left in your clamps? At turn-out, the same amount of cows will need approximately three tonnes of grazing by day and additional forage by night.”

Points which ought to be considered at this time of year include:

• How much forage have you got left to feed, do you need to calculate your forage stocks?
• Should you buffer feed and how much?
• What are suitable buffer feeds?
• Do you need to split the herd, keeping the high producers in and let the low producers out to grazing?

On a lovely spring day, good intakes of spring grass are an excellent feed as part of a balanced ration, but a good day is invariably followed by a winter’s day. The extensive range of specialist compounds and blends supplied by Cornwall Farmers, as well as a wide range of minerals, blocks and licks will provide maximum flexibility in your turn-out plan, ensuring a smooth transition to summer rations.

What are the other challenges regarding turn-out?

• Do you need as much protein and of what type?
• Do you need to change the type of mineral?
• What are the sources of energy in the ration?
• If the weather turns bad, how can you compensate?

“It’s obvious to make the most of grass at this time of year, but not over-estimate what grass actually provides,” says Dr Hawkey. “There can be two kinds of March days so be realistic and flexible in your approach and management. Also pay close attention to what the cows are telling you at turnout to make best use of your grass and alter the ration accordingly. Cows need equally as much attention to detail in their ration in the summer as the winter, and Cornwall Farmers offer both nutritional expertise and product ranges to ensure milk from grass is maximised from healthy, fertile cows”. 

Flexibility in your turn-out plan is essential. To help solve these and other problems caused by variable conditions and discuss all aspects of your farming business, you are invited to attend the special Cornwall Farmers Showcase Day at the Royal Cornwall Showground. Titled: “Four Seasons in One Day, Your Farming Year” the event takes place on Wednesday 18th March.

To discuss these issues and for further information from Cornwall Farmers, contact Dr Robin Hawkey on 07770 816581; Tom Mann on 07901 854477; Andy Hawken on 07901 854463 or the Feed and Forage Customers Service Team on 0845 22 55 922.