Management tips for the current drought conditions

Teagasc Grass10 advisor, Nikki Kennedy, and Future Beef Programme Manager, Martina Harrington, discuss management tips during current drought conditions and advise on key actions to be taken. With severe soil moisture deficits on farms at the moment, Nikki gives an overview of the current situation across the country, while Martina outlines how farmers are dealing with the issues on the ground. Martina also discusses management for first-calvers and thin cows as they all have different nutritional demands. With grass quality and quantity both falling, Nikki outlines the best supplementation strategies. Martina recommends protecting younger stock first. First-season dairy-beef calves are more vulnerable during drought and she discusses supplementing weanlings.  Martina and Nikki also outline strategies for fertiliser and slurry if rain comes in the coming days For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com