Bulling at Grass – Nutritional Management in a Hot & Dry Period

Pasture growth has slowed dramatically across much of the country as a result of the May dry spell. With bulls shortly heading out to spring calving herds, it is important not to leave nutritional management to chance, particularly when the recovery of grazing grass may be slow. Cows with calves at foot going to the bull are a priority for nutrition due to their high demand of milk from the young calves and energy needed for breeding. Energy intake influences the time cows take to start cycling and egg quality.

In areas that have experienced very dry weather and slowed grass growth, there will be a lot of pressure on grazing fields. In drought conditions it is easy to overgraze fields leaving insufficient green leaf to give energy to the plant. There needs to be enough green leaf there so, when rain does come, the grass can make the most of the moisture and take up nutrients quickly. Longer length, drought-stressed grass may head much quicker than normal and may be rejected by cows. In this situation topping grass can be useful; cows will eat what is cut more easily and the regrowth, when rain comes, will be of better quality.