Average Dates For Cutting Silage!!!

TheClubMan

Well folks,

I was just wondering what dates do people usually harvest their first and second cut silage in different parts of the country?

I know this year has been exceptional with very good grass growth everywhere but just a rough date.

Interested to see the difference between different soil types and areas of the country.

Kovu

South Leitrim here- First two weeks of July if possible. Second cut....what second cut?

severeoversteer

first cut at least done by 25th of may
have baled some silage in april before, was famous stuff. you need good drying weather though

once may comes we are making silage right through till September October time,

I don't budget or measure grass, I try and grow as much grass as possible from the outset and buy up more stock to eat it if there are surpluses which is the beauty of drystock

simx

Had some in May, June, August and September last year, only did first cut this year couple weeks ago due to reseeding and other reasons, will be aiming for May first cut next year if possible

td5man

Third or fourth week of May for first cut and second cut 2 months later.

whelan2

june bank holiday first cut, august bank holiday second cut

freedominacup

Aim to have n gone from first cut for 10th of May and second cut 6 weeks later.

munkus

South Galway. Single cut, usually close fields second week of April, well grazed at that stage. Cut second week of June.

I'm assuming that guys cutting in May have it closed very early?

freedominacup

munkus wrote: »

South Galway. Single cut, usually close fields second week of April, well grazed at that stage. Cut second week of June.

I'm assuming that guys cutting in May have it closed very early?

All silage ground grazed in spring. Closed some paddocks a week before first cut this year.

I said

June bank holiday ish

Reggie.

I said wrote: »

June bank holiday ish

Same as that and second cut around sept

stanflt

east meath

1st week of may-every 5-6weeks thereafter

ps silage made in april this year

Timmaay

freedominacup wrote: »

Aim to have n gone from first cut for 10th of May and second cut 6 weeks later.

How is your silage harvested? SP or wagon? And does the relatively early and lighter 1st cut result in any sort of reduced rate? Moving forward I really need to have similar dates to you, later 2nd cuts just don't work with dry land, you end up with the cows grazing heavy covers that got put back in.

mahoney_j

Always aim for 20/25 may first cut here.second cut not usually taken but measure aggressively and take a heap of surplus bales from paddocks through sumner..403 in stack so far + 2 pits of verg good first cut and 10 acres of wc wheat and brewers to follow.at the moment I'm covered for feedibg everything from 01/11 to late march.whole crop and I reckon Nother 200 bales to follow.you can never have enough.some lads here think I'm nuts,but I'm keeping fertliser out grass grazed and bales wrapped every week.working well so far.not too bothered if I'm looking at 100 bales or a pit of silage next April.better looking at it than for it.

Greengrass1

mahoney_j wrote: »

Always aim for 20/25 may first cut here.second cut not usually taken but measure aggressively and take a heap of surplus bales from paddocks through sumner..403 in stack so far + 2 pits of verg good first cut and 10 acres of wc wheat and brewers to follow.at the moment I'm covered for feedibg everything from 01/11 to late march.whole crop and I reckon Nother 200 bales to follow.you can never have enough.some lads here think I'm nuts,but I'm keeping fertliser out grass grazed and bales wrapped every week.working well so far.not too bothered if I'm looking at 100 bales or a pit of silage next April.better looking at it than for it.

Jesus Mahoney. 600 bales of surplus. Get more cows in will ye.
I made 120 surplus this yr so far. Thatll be about it id say as im soraying off 8 ac for reseed at end of month. have 550 bales of first cut silage taken 5/10july.
That's the date we always cut as it was when I get my school and college holidays. From now in we will be taking first cut in mid may I hope

mf240

Start in may finsh in oct. All bales and bits of scattered land.

What kind of money is the brewers mahoney? And is it hard to get it?

mahoney_j

stanflt wrote: »

east meath

1st week of may-every 5-6weeks thereafter

ps silage made in april this year

As sr increases stan do u think you'll still be able to aim for that eArly a first cut stan???.im all for early quality sage but also early spring grass and I feel here by pushing sr on milking block silage will be back a bit hence interest in wc and maize

mahoney_j

Greengrass1 wrote: »

Jesus Mahoney. 600 bales of surplus. Get more cows in will ye.
I made 120 surplus this yr so far. Thatll be about it id say as im soraying off 8 ac for reseed at end of month. have 550 bales of first cut silage taken 5/10july.
That's the date we always cut as it was when I get my school and college holidays. From now in we will be taking first cut in mid may I hope

Quota and lack of it is a bitch gg

Reggie.

mahoney_j wrote: »

Quota and lack of it is a bitch gg

What about a few sucklers

mahoney_j

Reggie. wrote: »

What about a few sucklers

Sure I might as well be feeding the dog as them Reggie.,ye all say there's nothing from sucklers!!!!

Reggie.

mahoney_j wrote: »

Sure I might as well be feeding the dog as them Reggie.,ye all say there's nothing from sucklers!!!!

Cheeky

stanflt

mahoney_j wrote: »

As sr increases stan do u think you'll still be able to aim for that eArly a first cut stan???.im all for early quality sage but also early spring grass and I feel here by pushing sr on milking block silage will be back a bit hence interest in wc and maize

will prob get earlier on grasing platform as sr increases so that all ground will be in play come mid may
aim to need less silage per cow as median calving date improves
looking at feeding maize/beet/brewers when cows are at grass at the shoulders and replace silage with as much fresh grazed grass as possible
when im buffering like that my base feed to yield will go higher(ie from 25litres to 30 so only litres over 30 will require 0.5kg meal.
this will make sure that margin over feed will still be profitable with low milk price exposure
the benefit of feed to yield is most rewarding when milk price is low

Timmaay

mahoney_j wrote: »

Quota and lack of it is a bitch gg

That's 600 surplus bales from the overall farm or grazing block?? What is your overall SR?

mahoney_j

stanflt wrote: »

will prob get earlier on grasing platform as sr increases so that all ground will be in play come mid may
aim to need less silage per cow as median calving date improves
looking at feeding maize/beet/brewers when cows are at grass at the shoulders and replace silage with as much fresh grazed grass as possible
when im buffering like that my base feed to yield will go higher(ie from 25litres to 30 so only litres over 30 will require 0.5kg meal.
this will make sure that margin over feed will still be profitable with low milk price exposure
the benefit of feed to yield is most rewarding when milk price is low

Interesting take on it and on feed to yield have to say fully agree.aiming to push constant sr on milking block to 3,6 maby 3.7 and maximise quality grass/silage from milk block and heifer block .ultimTe aim is to have 3 grazing types,milkers maidens and heifer calves .and to measure and graze/bale to max potential with added wc,maize and brewers imported in.winter milk have to say is now shelved due to no decent winter contract and lack of interest compact spring calving with max use of grazed grass and a tonne plus of concentrate is now becoming my motto.take 6 weeks off chill out with wife and family,go skiing and recharge batteries from mid December tol mate jan us now my miotto

mahoney_j

Timmaay wrote: »

That's 600 surplus bales from the overall farm or grazing block?? What is your overall SR?

Overall farm Tim plus. Few bits of silage and 4.5 acres of Italian/crimson
Overall sr 2.2

Timmaay

mahoney_j wrote: »

Interesting take on it and on feed to yield have to say fully agree.aiming to push constant sr on milking block to 3,6 maby 3.7 and maximise quality grass/silage from milk block and heifer block .ultimTe aim is to have 3 grazing types,milkers maidens and heifer calves .and to measure and graze/bale to max potential with added wc,maize and brewers imported in.winter milk have to say is now shelved due to no decent winter contract and lack of interest compact spring calving with max use of grazed grass and a tonne plus of concentrate is now becoming my motto.take 6 weeks off chill out with wife and family,go skiing and recharge batteries from mid December tol mate jan us now my miotto

Where to then, when you have everything perfected ha, at the max SR and as high an average yield as is practical? Would you consider a 2nd herd? If a larger block of land showed up locally would you ever consider upping ship and moving?

mahoney_j

Timmaay wrote: »

Where to then, when you have everything perfected ha, at the max SR and as high an average yield as is practical? Would you consider a 2nd herd? If a larger block of land showed up locally would you ever consider upping ship and moving?

Tbh it'd be hard to after spending the amount I have on grassland and infrastructure over last few years Tim.a second herd means a hell of a lot more work and investment .im getting to a stage now where I'm comfortable. To a point but that's a dangerous position I have been eying up 80 acres next door for a long time andvi fit ever comes up I want to be ready to pounce.also fad from perfection here still a lot to do just like us all talking to a well established freind of mibe during week and he tells me that every day of the week he enters the yard he is spending 10 k a day in his head!!!!! Proab no different to anybody's!!

darragh_haven

In West Cork. First cut done between 15th and 22nd of may every year. All silage ground grazed at least once in spring. Most of the grass variety has a may 25th heading out date

frazzledhome

Start mid May and finish with a small third cut in Sept. Cut bales most weeks stop in Aug. 1000 bales of surplus to date. Overall Sr 2.8

Reggie.

frazzledhome wrote: »

Start mid May and finish with a small third cut in Sept. Cut bales most weeks stop in Aug. 1000 bales of surplus to date. Overall Sr 2.8

1000 bales :eek:


And what the hell is SR

darragh_haven

Reggie. wrote: »

1000 bales :eek:


And what the hell is SR

Stocking Rate (per Hectare)