Maximising performance at grass
Efficient grassland management is key to profitable cattle production.听Having the ability to听maximise performance from grazed grass can significantly reduce听feed听costs while听maintaining听high outputs.听听
Monitoring听grass听
For听most systems grass is the cheapest and most readily available feed,听however,听its value can differ depending on a variety of factors such as species, soil听type,听and weather conditions.听Monitoring grass cover, sward听growth听and听nutritional supply听are听all听essential听practices听for ensuring听grass is听grazed at the听optimum听stage.听听
Providing听good quality听grass for the whole of the summer period requires attention to detail at initial turn out.听Managing听grazing throughout the season can听help to optimise growth and potentially reduce levels of听additional听supplementation听required. Target sward heights vary depending on grazing systems.
Recommended听optimum听grazing听levels
Source: Forage Based Suckler Systems听
Grazing听systems听
Choosing the correct grazing system for your business is key. Rotational grazing听allows听greater forage utilisation and rest periods allowing for dry matter to build on farm听while better protecting soil structure.听Continuous听grazing, whilst it is often simpler,听can听lead to inconsistent quality and lower productivity听per hectare听but if managed properly can still lead to听good performance听of livestock as they have greater opportunity for selective grazing.听听
Matching the stocking听rate to the supply听of grass听ensures that听the听ground听is not听being under or over grazed. Overstocking can lead to damaged听swards听and soil听structure听whereas听understocking can听reduce grass nutrient听availability听and digestibility. Monitoring this across the grazing season will allow adjustments to be made as and when听required.听
When managing听your system,听groupings should also be taken into consideration.听Better听quality听grazing should be听prioritised for听animals that need it most such as听growing听cattle听as these have听a听higher听nutritional requirement听compared to mature stock.听
Soil听fertility听听
Good soil听fertility is the foundation听of productive forage systems.听Regular soil听analysis can听benefit听all farming systems by increasing the efficient use of chemical fertilisers, livestock听slurry听and听farmyard manures.听Without soil testing, it is听very difficult听to ensure the right application of fertilisers for the crop and get the听optimum听yield.听Soil analysis is now one of the five options听required听as part of the Whole Farm Plan听(WFP), with regular soil testing听giving听valuable information,听it is听essential for soil quality improvement听and to ensure that you听maintain听productive pastures.听听
Supplementation听
While grass can meet most听nutritional听requirements听during peak growth,听supplementation may be听required听during periods of low growth听such as during drought or towards the end of the season where quality starts to decline.听Use of concentrates听should be strategic to听help听maintain听performance听without undermining the cost benefits of grazing.听The听table听below听illustrates听additional听costs of starting听supplementation at the varying stages of听grazing.听
Water and听minerals听
Providing a clean and accessible water supply听during听grazing is also key to听cattle听performance.听Regardless of grazing system, water must be available whether this be permanent structure or temporary.听Cattle spend most of their grazing time close to a water source听especially during periods听of hot weather when there is less available water from grazing, so听if you听can听provide more than one trough or move them around it can听reduce over grazing听of areas听and give a better utilisation of the field.听The daily water requirement for a growing yearling is around 14 litres per day, coming from听their diet as well as听drinking.听
Mineral听imbalances听in grass听or听trace element deficiencies听can limit听growth听and health听in youngstock.听It is important to听determine听whether听additional听minerals are听required.听Testing forage听can听be a useful tool to听determine听if there are any听mineral deficiencies听in grazing or听high levels听of antagonists that may reduce听availability听to the animal. This will help make more informed decisions if听supplementation is needed to meet the requirements of the cattle,听particularly during periods of high demand such as growth.听It also helps ensure that mineral levels are not excessive, avoiding the risk of toxicity.听
5 top tips:听
- Monitor听grass growth听鈥撎�aim to graze at the right stage of growth to maximise intake and animal performance.听Consider making hay/silage in periods of surplus grass to听maintain听quality.听
- Evaluate grazing systems听鈥撎�consider rotational grazing to improve grass utilisation and productivity.听
- Maintain soil fertility听鈥撎�carry out regular soil testing to ensure applications are correctly targeted.听听
- Supplementation听鈥撎�don鈥檛听wait for performance to drop, introduce supplements听intentionally听during periods of grass shortage.听
- Water and minerals听鈥撎�ensure constant clean water supply and听consider听testing听forage for deficiencies or over supply of nutrients.听
Olivia Whitford, Consultant,听Olivia.Whiteford@sac.co.uk听听
Posted by Unearthed News on 18/05/2026
