No two years are the same. This year, first-cut silages should be of better quality than 2024 and second cuts have yielded well. Winter will inevitably arrive, so a little preparation now can help us make informed decisions.

Year-on-year, grass silages can be extremely variable in nutritional qualities. May weather in 2025 allowed many to take their first cut slightly earlier than in recent years. Before the housed period, it will be important to test the silages available in the yard and plan accordingly.

For dry cows, silage quality will dictate the condition of cows at calving, and dilution/corrective feeding may be required.

The target Body Condition Score (BCS) is typically 2.75-3.0 at dry off and 3.0-3.25 at calving. To achieve this, we aim for a maintenance-type diet over the 60-day dry period. Silage with a DMD of 68-70% will generally suffice.

For thin cows, drying off early is the preferred option. If dried off early (e.g., 10-12-week dry period), cows fed average quality silage (68-70% DMD) should have an increase in BCS of approx. 0.5 units before calving.

For youngstock, feeding rates will also be dependent on silage quality results. If we take the same silage used for dry cows above with our youngstock, offering a silage-only diet, a weight gain of only 0.3kg/day can be expected over the winter from a 70% DMD silage. Approximately 1.5-2kg of concentrate would be needed here to achieve target winter growth rates. Is there a higher quality forage available for youngstock?

Target Body Condition Score (BCS) is typically 2.75-3.0 at dry off and 3.0-3.25 at calving.

Fodder Budget

Conducting a quick fodder budget to highlight reserves or deficits is crucial, and the sooner it’s done, the more options there are to bridge the gap. Having surplus silage on farm is a strong position. Housing could come early, or Spring 2026 may be harsh. Removing surplus grass now improves quality and provides more options later.

For further advice, contact your local Agritech Sales Advisor here. 

Over the next few months (mid-June to late October), a substantial number of beef cattle will be slaughtered off grass.

When cattle are housed for finishing, the cost/kg of live-weight gain typically increases by up to 50%, compared to finishing cattle directly off grass. Feed costs account for 75% of variable costs in Irish beef production systems. Grazed grass is estimated to cost circa €70/tonne of dry matter, with grass silage costing approximately double that and concentrate prices trending well over three times the cost of grass at present. Therefore, in the current climate, optimizing the contribution of grazed grass within the animal’s diet and using silage and concentrates as strategically as possible will aid in increasing margins within beef finishing systems.

Grass quality

Excellent grassland management will underpin the success of finishing cattle efficiently from grass. Energy is the main driver of live-weight gain in cattle and should be maximised throughout the finishing period. At grass, this is achieved by utilising top quality grazed grass (target covers of 1,200-1,600 kg DM/ha (8-12 cm)) throughout the grazing season. Aim to have cattle no longer than three days in the one paddock/area. Swards should also be grazed to 3.5-4 cm to maintain quality for the subsequent rotation.

Feeding concentrates at grass

Supplementation rates at grass will be dependent on grass availability, grass quality, animal type (helping to achieve adequate fat cover in continental breeds) or to speed up the finishing period where prices increase. Supplementation rates of 3-4 kg where grass quality is adequate or 5-6kg where grass quality is poor/supply is low, are typical from mid-summer onwards. A high-energy, low-protein supplement will suffice at this time of year, as adequate protein will come from grass. Grouping cattle on their ability to finish off grass is also worthwhile (age, breed, and gender). A ‘build-up’ period to a concentrate finishing diet can be implemented while at grass for those groups returning to the house prior to slaughter.

What does the research say?

Teagasc research highlights the performance benefits achieved when supplementing suckler-bred steers at grass.

For further information, contact your local Agritech Sales Advisor.