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Currently large under utilisation of grass on Irish beef farms, 4.8t DM/ha, O'Donovan et al; French  2011)

Potential to grow 12-16 tonne DM/ha (O'Donovan et al, 2011)

Increase export of Irish grass fed beef to 2025 (DAFM, 2015)

Sheep Price Average: €4.72/kg (2012-2016)

Global sheep consumption low: 2017: Approx. 1.8kg per capita,

Beef Production System :
Suckler to weaning

15 Spring Calving cows

4 Replacement females

15 calves (born December to February)

1 stock bull

Sheep Production system:
Pedigree rams for breeding
Crossbred lambs for slaughter

40 Pedigree Texel February Lambing ewes

60 Crossbred March Lambing ewes

20 replacement ewe hoggets

5 stock rams

3 Grazing Platforms
Total: 30 ha

11ha: 15 cows, 15 calves, 4 replacements 1 stock bull - 1.36 LU/ha

10 ha: 20 ewes, 30 lambs, 20 replacement females

9 ha: 80 ewes, 120 lambs

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2 young farmers

David (27) & Stephen (22)

Educated : Both - Animal Science Degree & Green Cert

David: Teacher in Pallaskenry agricultural college, Limerick

Stephen: Final year UCD animal science student.

I.T skills

Willing to progress

Attend/host farm walks.

No families currently.

Can use mixed grazing as an advantage.

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David: Works full time in Limerick

Stephen: Student in Dublin

Time a major challenge

Beef Industry struggling

Brexit

Stocking rate

Don't graze too tight - Parasite control

Fragmented land

Inconsistent cash flow

Health: TB, Pneumonia, Schmallenberg virus can have  detrimental consequences

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Apply knowledge gained from university

Avail of young farmer opportunities to enhance infrastructure

Utilize pasture base

Join a grass focused discussion group

Finish animals off grass

Trial certain grazing techniques in Pallaskenry  agricultural college (David runs sheep flock)

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Currently reliant on father

Increased subdivisions after weaning more difficult to divide paddocks - increased labor

Poor weather conditions

Future for Irish suckler production

GHG regulations

Poor Income: National Average

Sheep: €15,000

Suckler: €15,000

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Lehinch, Hollymount, Co Mayo. West of Ireland

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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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Reseed poor producing silage ground.

Reduce paddock sizes in the larger fields.

Act on soil test reports.

Spread lime and fertilizer based on test report.

Weekly farm cover walk

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Further reseeding based on previous measurements.

Continue to act on soil tests - Monitor progress

Assess grass growth -Match stocking rate to deal with demand from animals and increased grass growth

Aim to produce 70% + DMD silage for pregnant ewes - Reduce Listeriosis risk

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Objectives of Grassland  Management Plan

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Objectives of Grassland  Management Plan

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Grow more grass

Increase utilization

To increase grass grown and utilized on the whole farm, throughout the five years, to 13tDM/ha.

To achieve early spring growth and have adequate supplies of grass for the early lambing flock.

To increase the grazing season for the beef enterprise on the farm.

To increase the proportion of grazed grass and grass silage in the animals’ diet, therefore increasing LWG from grass increasing profitability.

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Year 1:

Introduce grass measurement

Purchase plate meter

Soil test.

Silage testing.

Join a local grass focused  discussion group.

Upload grass measurements on to pasture base

Establish a top quality boundary fence to allow for ease of management and establishment of temporary fencing

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Introduce on/off grazing in the spring and autumn.

Enhance drainage system  on wet/waterlogged land to increase grazing platform.

Assess reseeded ground and continue with reseeding programme.

Continue to create uniform paddock size with the use of temporary and permanent fencing.

Possibilities to reseed using multispecies or introduce a winter forage crop for finishing lambs/over wintering ewes.

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Replace temporary fencing with permanent fencing in fields that will not be used for silage.

Continue to match demand and grass cover with the use of measurement and pasturebase.

Monitor whats doing well and improve on it.