Drought Bill Keeps Growing… We’ve Had to Buy More Feed!

August 22, 2026 Admin Agriculture

With grass still tight after the dry spell, we’ve had to make another decision on feed — more bought-in feed arrives on the farm to help keep the cows and youngstock going while we wait for grass growth to recover.

In this episode, Joe goes through what the cows are currently eating, how production is holding up and why we’ve brought in Tirlán/Gain forage stretcher. We’re also feeding the heifers, replacements and beef animals while trying to improve grass clean-outs and manage what grazing we have available.

There’s plenty happening around the yard too. We finally get some much-needed rain, continue the big calf shed clean-out and pressure washing, and another shear pin breaks on the PTO!

Thanks for watching and following our family dairy farm here in Co. Wicklow, Ireland.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro
00:30 Feeding heifers
04:53 Feeding beef cow & bull
06:19 Calf shed clean-out starts
08:58 Cow production & feeding
10:57 How’s your mental health in the drought?
11:17 Tirlán forage stretcher arrives
12:57 Calf shed clean-out continues
14:36 It’s raining! Finally!!
15:36 Cow feed breakdown
18:09 Youngest comes morning milking
21:32 Shear pin breaks on PTO
22:55 More grass for heifers
25:32 Calf shed clean-out continues
28:45 Grass clean-outs down
31:20 Pressure washing calf shed
33:53 Mini calf shed review
34:37 Outro