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Grass, either grazed or conserved, provides 90 to 95% of the energy requirements of sheep (Keady et al. 2009), any improvement in the production efficiency and grass utilization would significantly increase farm profitability (O'Donovan et al. 2011)

Growth in the sheep sector will come from improved technical efficiencies, while significant growth opportunities will also be offered by the sharp increase in consumer demand. (DAFM 2015)

The research demonstration farm in Athenry produced an average grass yield of 11.5t/ha per annum with the BETTER farms producing between 7.0 and 8.5 t DM/ha in 2015 (Philip Creighton and Ciaran Lynch 2016)

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Mid-season lamb production
- Set stocking

280 lowland Suffolk cross ewes
10 breeding rams (Charolais and Texel)

Ewe lambs -> 5
Hoggets -> 58
Ewes -> 217

69ha grazing block split by a local laneway

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Relatively dry ground suitable for more intensive grass ground

External boundary fencing on the farm very good

Farmer willing and open to change in order to reduce reliance on purchased feed

Farmer attended agricultural college and is in partnership with son who has a masters degree in agriculture

Works as a sales rep for a feed company so is up to date on latest technical knowledge

Farm soil tests and tests silage

Registered to PastureBase Ireland

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Both partners are in full time employment off farm --> Limited time availability

Internal fencing is quite limited with a number of fields in blocks of >5ha

No grass measuring equipment

Limited experience of the practicalities of grass measurement

Cashflow is an issue when capital needs to be invested

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Surrounded by a number of dairy farms growing and utilising more grass so potential to do the same is there

Additional grass measuring labour could be divided up between both members of the partnership

High level of computer literacy so adapting to PastureBase should be relatively straight forward

With good external boundaries in place the costs involved with dividing up paddocks should be minimised

Grant opportunities through TAMS etc. are available for infrastructure

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Viability of sheep production under question with fluxuations in market price

Recent trends of more unpredictable weather conditions makes planning ahead more difficult

Time available to implement any new grassland plan is extremely limited and may not receive enough attention

Reforms in CAP 2020 may make less intensive farming more rewarding, i.e. limiting N usage, planting traditional hay meadows

Low income sector: Consumption is low and price is low ~ €4.70/kg

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The objective over the next 5 years is to set up the grazing block so that it is suitable for a rotational grazing system, finish a higher percentage of lambs off a grass only diet and grow higher quality silage for feeding pregnant ewes before lambing

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Soil test quarter of the farm as majority done in the last three years -> Liming

90% of external fencing is complete so aim to finish next 10%

Split upper half of lower half of grazing block

Purchase plate meter
--> Consider electronic attachment further down the line

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Act on soil test results -> NPK and lime (1st)

Begin weekly farm cover walks and entering data on PastureBase

Purchases 200m temporary fencing reels for subdividing paddocks

Graze silage ground before closed and remove cuts every 6 - 7 weeks

Devise method of water access on a temporary basis

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Continue acting on soil test results

Aim to increase stocking rate in order to match increased grass growth

Implement a reseeding program

Remove excess paddocks target DMD of 70+

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Set farm up for optimal rotational grazing, i.e. access points, water troughs etc.

Aim for 10 ewes/hectare
- Ewes & rams 0.2 LU
- Weaned lambs 0.12 LU
- Hoggets & wethers 0.15 LU

Complete soil test rotation

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Review progress of plan

Fix up any damaged infrastructure

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Infrastructure - I would expect focus on internal fencing options, the IFJ has had some comprehensive articles in the past on options in addition to demonstrations at the Athenry open day

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Breeding policy - suitable for what you are trying to do?

What is the SR currently.

KT group? Is there a good sheep group within travelling distance

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Silage/ winter forages (redstart etc an option to rest grazing ground) - what is current wintering arrangements, most silage is sub optimal on sheep farms, would red start help to rest grazing ground in Nov/Dec?

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Alternative forages - turnout to weaning, if your objective is to reduce concentrate supplementation then, clovers and herbs should be seriously considered for part of the grazing blcok