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Dairy System of production on current case study farm

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Dairy System of production on current case study farm

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90 Holstein friesian dairy cows

Replacements bought in.

25 cows AI Belgium Blue and Angus. Rest run with stock bulls.

All spring calving

3 Charloaois stock bulls

47 Ha of a milking platform. Separated by a public road. Not fragmented.

Considered to be lying in 3 blocks

Rural Monaghan

Heavy soils

Strip grazing system.

Flexible in times of tough climatic conditions.

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In a survey carried out by Moorepark , it was suggested that the average days at grazing on dairy farms in Ireland was 241 days.( E.Kennedy et al 1995).

Irish dairy farms have the potential to grow up to 15t/ha of grass over a long grazing season. (Brereton 1995, E. Kennedy).

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To be able to grow more grass through grass measuring and use of Pasture base Ireland and to have more grass in late autumn and in early spring, to reduce the chances of early housing and late turnout.

Be able to manage grass in poor climatic conditions e.g. on and off grazing and in times of flooding. address the soil fertility problem and the drainage problem on the farm.

To increase milk solids through growing top quality grass and by increasing the days at grass.

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Grass measuring and efficient use of Pasturebase and Agrinet

Reseeding paddocks and Liming

Re-evaluate location of water drinkers in paddocks.

Identify paddocks and field in need of drainage.

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Soil Test and Nutrient management plan.

Infrastructure revaluation. E.g. Roadways and paddock entry points

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Climatic conditions

Fodder crisis

Labour. Rely on son at weekends and Holiday’s

Milk price volatility

CAP 2020 reform

Risk of slurry overload.

Pollution regulations regarding slurry and silage storage in wet year.

Brexit

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Get more input and information from discussion group regarding grassland management

Liming and management of poaching problem

Continue to use grass measuring more effectively

Soil test and monitor progress

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Join a grass discussion group

Expansion of cows

Expansion of land, nearby farms coming up for sale.

Can compare to Ballyhaise research farm, relatively similar soil and climatic conditions.

Use grass measuring in the future

Use PBI,grasstec and agrinet in the future

Use of Zero grazer in tough soil conditions.

Opportunity to go into breeding replacements if wanted.

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Data gathered and revaluated.

Expand based ion that current situation.

Re-evaluate calving pattern and 6 week in calf rate

Reduce the risk of poaching through drainage projects. I.E shoring and cleaning out drains.

Stocking rate and cow numbers and breeding policy reviewed.

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Poor soil conditions

Heavy soils.

Drainage problems

Climatic conditions determine the days at grass and grass growth.

Time a major challenge

Challenge in managing time between the dairy and beef enterprise

Calving continental calves from dairy cows

Volatile milk prices

Problems with scour on farm. Cryptosporidium. Problem with mortalarro.

Poor infrastructure, Roadways and calving facilities.

Currently growing 6-7.5t/ha approximately.

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Low input

No heifer rearing costs

Has knowledge and experience of the system.

Continuous supply of bulls and heifers that can be transferred onto the beef farm

Relatively young farmer (56)

Good help. Brother and son working on farm.

Part of a KT dairy discussion group

New 14 unit milking parlour.

Experience counts when managing grass in difficult soil conditions

Effective use of on-off grazing system in wet periods.

Good calf rearing techniques at a low cost system.

Excellent machinery range.

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Gather information from plan

Invest in infrastructure

Continue to measure and budget

Alternative foragers- Maize, Brassicas etc.