The cost of milk production is rising rapidly with almost every input increasing at unforeseen levels. Milk price is rising too, but at too slow a rate in many producers eyes. As a consequence margins are being squeezed ever tighter. Those who put cows out to graze will be looking forward, even more than usual, towards turnout, and will see grass as an ideal way to reduce the reliance on purchased feeds and a way of producing quality milk for a lower cost.

During the early summer months, when grass quality is at its best, maximising milk from forage will be a key and achievable goal. As grass quality naturally deteriorates animal intakes will decrease also, so care will be needed not to over estimate its nutritional value and its potential for milk production.

Grass ME

(MJ/Kg DM)

Grass DM intake (Kg/day)

ME intake

(MJ/day)

Milk yield

(Litres/day)

11.3

12.8

145

14.6

9.5

12.0

114

11.8

8.4

10.6

89

10.0

If the rumen is left unbalanced and short of nutrients at this time, not only will you see a drop in yields but later this could effect fertility and body condition. All negatives when trying to increase margins! Even with extraordinary fertiliser prices grass is still the cheapest form of feed available. Managing grazing, measuring its growth, and testing for quality will allow a better understanding of its values. Ensuring cows have enough available without wasting this valuable resource is a skill in itself. Grass quality peeks in mid May, but is still only then capable of supporting maintenance plus 12 – 15 litres/cow/day. This number can reduce by another 10 litres over the next 4 months. At this time it is important to remember that the end goal is to produce milk, not to graze cows cheaply!

With milk prices expected to continue to rise the proportion of grass and the balance with supplementary feed should reflect the economic value of the end product, so in this case giving the cows some extra feed will more than pay for itself.

LOSE OVER £2450? or GAIN MORE THAN £1750!

By over estimating grass quality and and not feeding correctly, 2 litres/cow/day could quite easily be lost. If milk price is at 40ppl then for 100 cows this would be reflected in a loss in income of £2480/month. A massive opportunity to put money in the bank missed!

Using some supplementary feed such as parlour cake or some meal to balance what is offered from the grass, yields could be maintained and this huge financial loss avoided. For example, feeding a good quality compound costing £425/t at only 1kg/cow/day would avoid this drop. Allowing a feed rate of 0.4kg/litre the 100 cow herd would produce 7750 litres more milk giving extra income after the feed is paid for of £1783/month. An extra amount welcome on any milk cheque! Grass is a great resource to have. Managing it and understanding it can have great benefits to your business. Maximise it’s potential and be prepared to support it without having over expectations of its capabilities and we can all look forward to summer together.

Michael Carruthers

Michael Carruthers