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A highly nutritious feed, grass costs approximately 7cent/kg of dry matter (DM), compared to grass silage at 13c/kg DM and
concentrates at 22c/kgDM.(Kennedy et al, 2005)

Each additional day at grass, farm profitability increased by €2.70/cow (Hurley, 2010)

Grass budgeting gives confidence to increase herd size and stocking rate knowing that the cows will be fed adequately thus making the farm even more profitable. (O'Loughlin)

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Carbon neutral farming system expanding

Suckler to 14 month bull beef finishing system
Replacement heifer rearing
Only established in 2017
First calves from heard in 2018

46 spring calving cows and heifers

20 calves from 2017

Bull calves finished inside
Heifer calves out-wintered

2 grazing blocks (54.89 ha)
- first block all in one (22.89 ha in total) bar 2 fields (~5 ha)
- second all in one block (32 ha)

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Objective of the grassland management plan

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Objective of the grassland management plan

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To start grass measuring and budgeting.

Choose the right grass varieties that best suit the soil.

Adopt relevant technologies to make labour easy - i.e. one person job.

Increase stocking rate with increasing grass productivity.

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Large fields in first grazing block with potential for paddocking

Second grazing block is only under construction now.

Cow type - Stabiliser - suits the system

Farmer is educated

Working with 2 advisors

Weighing scales on the farm to help measure anial performance

Second block is all together with brand new handling facilities

Willingness to invest in new technologies and ideas

Carbon neutral farm - good image

2 sons to help at weekends and part time help

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Farmer works full time

Brexit - what will happen to the Irish beef market?

Not in any discussion groups

Heavy soils - very wet in parts

High rainfall area

Two blocks are 5 miles apart

First block has 2 fields half a mile down the road

Little to no infrastructure in place

Never grass measured

Old grass in both blocks - wouldn't have done much reseeding

Carbon neutral may have implications on types and amount of fertiliser used

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Blank canvas with both blocks

Get Grasstec to map out paddocks

Go to grass measurement courses and dairy farm open days to see infrastructure and paddocking

Set up a grass measuring plan

Expand herd size

Join discussion groups

Invest in grass measuring equipment and new technologies

Reseed with more suitable species to the soil type

Soil test

Get set up on Pasture Base Ireland (decision support tool)

On/Off grazing

Improve infrastructure

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Labour availability

Time management

Soil type

Weather pattern

Brexit - What is the future for the Irish beef market

Prices of grass seed, infrastructure

Dairy boom

Policy - GHG emissions

The price for beef

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Grasstec Agricultural Services - Experts for your farming needs

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Grasstec offer a wide range of services & products to the agricultural & commercial sector in Ireland, the UK & mainland Europe

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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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Grassland Courses - Teagasc | Agriculture and Food Development Authority

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To get Grasstec in to map out paddocks.

Get drainage right

Soil test both farms.

Dig trial holes to see soil profiles.

Set up nutrient management plan

Join discussion group

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Get set up on PBI and start entering info

Learn about grass measuring and set up grass measuring scheme

Attend farm walks and open days

Review results from tests

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Soil test and see how nutrient plan is going

Continue measuring and using PBI

Select grass type to suit soil and begin reseeding plan

Put in farm roadways for better access

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Use data collected to apply good grass management

Continue gathering data with measurement tools

Begin to increase stocking rate to grass growing potential

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Invest in infrastructure to perfect system

Insert correct paddock sizes

Continue to measure grass to ensure system is working

Start to incorporate clover and implement winter forage plan

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Climate & Weather Averages in Sligo, Ireland

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Climate data and weather averages in Sligo