Signpost: Survey shows 75% of dairy and beef farms have a surplus of winter feed
Most farms have many tonnes of feed in the yard with no information as to its quality.
With wet weather driving cattle indoors, farmers should act early to remedy any winter feed shortages, according to Teagasc.
However, most are well prepared, with the recent national fodder survey indicating 75% of dairy and beef farms have a surplus of winter feed in stock.
The proportion of farms short of silage ranged from 9% to 15%, depending on region, with farms in the North West tighter for feed supply than average, according to survey results.
Tom Curran, head of advisory services at Teagasc said: ”While our client farms are broadly on target for winter feed, a significant proportion of farms need to be watchful of winter feed stocks in the coming weeks and months.
"As always, the options to fix shortages are better value and more plentiful, if early action is taken".
He encouraged any farmer with fodder concerns to contact the local Teagasc offices for independent advice.
The survey also revealed diet formulation concerns. Just over 5% of farms had tested silage quality, when the survey was carried out earlier this month.
Joe Patton, head of Dairy Knowledge Transfer, said this means most farms have many tonnes of feed in the yard with no information as to its quality.
"Would we be satisfied to receive a delivery of concentrate without getting a docket on its ingredients and feed value? Most likely not! However, silage quality is by far the more important issue for the cost and performance of the winter diet."
He said dairy cows in milk and growing heifers need silage with dry matter digestibility (DMD) of at least 72%, and 75% for freshly-calved winter milk cows.
Dry cows needing moderate body condition score gain need silage at 68-70%. But the national average DMD (based on the farms submitting samples) is about 66%, so it is likely that most farms have silage stocks that are below target quality.
He advised herd owners to test silage pits and bales, and their Teagasc adviser would help with interpreting results.
Farmers are also advised to consider how silage quality may have been affected by challenging weather conditions, particularly for later cuts.
Nationally, the latest fodder survey results indicated 10% to 15% of farms require corrective action to have sufficient winter feed.
The key risk factor for them is a longer than expected winter feeding season.
A higher proportion of farms in Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon, and Sligo may be at risk of feed shortages, attributed to difficult second cuts and an earlier start to silage feeding.
In this region, the survey indicated 67% had adequate or surplus silage; there was some risk or tight supply for 18%; and 15% were short of winter feed.
The situation was similar, but slightly better, in Carlow, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford, and Wicklow.
But elsewhere in the country, farmers were better prepared for the winter, with adequate or surplus silage for 81-82%, some risk or tight supply for 10% (if winter feeding is extended), and only 8-9% short.
The survey indicated 16% of farms (predominantly drystock) had fewer animals to feed this year, and about 17% had less silage than last year.
The farmers short of fodder or at risk of being short intended to purchase silage (the option for 53%), reduce stock (25%), or a combination of both (23%).
In summary, the national picture for winter feed availability is relatively secure, but with close monitoring needed on on 10-20% of farms, and corrective action on 10-15%.
Teagasc survey co-ordinator Kate McCarthy said: ”The updated fodder survey shows that most farms are in a relatively good position for winter feed, despite the challenging weather in late summer and autumn.”
