Winter is one of the quietest seasons on the farm, so most farmers make use of their time to carry out general maintenance work. In Ireland, while the winter isn’t as severe as in the UK (Gulf Stream effect), a combination of low ground temperatures and cold rainfall may mean that cows have to be brought indoors for short periods, so our farmers have to maintain this housing in good condition and in readiness.
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Many dairy farmers don’t milk their cows in winter - this is known as a drying-off period. Like the other seasons, winter on the farm is all about preparing for the next season, which is spring. As spring is calving season and the busiest time of the year, a lot of our farmers like to get a head start before the hard work begins, so spend their time in winter repairing and maintaining their farm buildings and machinery. This means that once the hectic calving season starts, our farmers are ready and raring to go! During the spring and summer months, our farmers are already thinking ahead to make sure they are well prepared for the wintertime. In spring, pastures are checked and more grass seed is sown to ensure growth. Then, during the summer when the farm has plenty of grass, some farmers will cut and store this grass. This is known as silage, and is used to feed the cows during wintertime. |