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When managed correctly, grass is a cheap, nutritious feed source, that has the potential to reduce the need for concentrate or expensive silage supplementation while achieving similar levels of performance.   (Teagasc.ie, 2020)

Increasing grass utilisation by 1 tonne DM/ha/year has the potential to benefit Drystock farmers €105/ha

Annual grass DM production on Drystock farms is < 14 t DM/ha
(Pasturebase.teagasc.ie, 2020)
Huge potential to improve on this.

Case Study farm is currently operating a Contract Rearing enterprise
Previously Bull Beef system

4th year contract rearing

Now rearing for 5 different clients

215 calves
177 Heifers

131 acres in one grazing block at farmyard

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Farmer age

Education - Teagasc Green Cert

Willingness to progress

Member of grass based and calf rearing discussion groups

Potential to grow more grass and utilise it

Regular soil testing

Grazing ground is all one block at farmyard

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Full time employment - FRS

Time - Work/Life balance

Multiple grazing groups

First Rotation - maintaining quality

Parts of farm can become very wet

Animal Health - Pneumonia,
Coccidosis- main issues experienced

Beef Prices - Highly volatile

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Grass Tech to map the farm

Attend farm walks & open days

Teagasc/ IFJ Grass measuring course

Use PBI app regularly

Purchase plate meter

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Policy - in Derogation,
also future GHG regulations

Weather -parts of farm can become very wet

Brexit

Beef Prices

Cost of inputs - concentrates, fertiliser

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The objective on this farm is to use PBI regularly and measure grass weekly with the goal of growing more grass. In addition, maximise intake of high quality grass in the animals diet and carefully manage the first rotation to maintain quality.
Within the 5 years PBI data will be used to construct a reseeding plan and the Spring & Autumn Planner and fodder budget facilities will be implemented annually

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Measure weekly

Enter data to PBI regularly

Spring & Autumn Planners

Soil Test

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Soil Test

Use data to target problematic paddocks

Silage analysis

Fodder Budget

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Measuring

Reseeding

Set and organised weighing schedule to monitor specific weight gains during grazing season

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Measure weekly

Enter data to PBI

Finish paddock infrastructure

Grass Tech to map farm

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PastureBase Ireland. PastureBaseIreland is a grassland management decision support tool and a mechanism to capture background data on farms.

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Optimise System

Grazing groups- established and organised

At this stage, aim to be growing 15-16 t DM/ha per year

Possibility of growing other potential forages e.g. Kale

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Teagasc -  10t grass DM/ha/year utilised and 10 grazings/paddock/year
Measure weekly & use PBI
Measure weekly & use PBI

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Grass10 - Teagasc | Agriculture and Food Development Authority

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Teagasc recognises that the collaboration of a number of organisations in the Irish agri-food industry is required to achieve the Grass10 objectives. Currently the Grass10 campaign is supported by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; AIB; FBD Trust; Grassland Agro; and the Farmers Journal.