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Suckler to store
Plus calf to beef

35 spring calving cows
45 autumn calving cows

Cattle 0-1  95
Cattle 1-2  118
cows 2+     80

Stock bulls  2

85 ha grassland area split into seven different locations. 2.06 LU/ha stocking rate. Both rented and owned ground with 75 ha located in a 5 km radius and 10 ha 20km away

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Help is always available (two sons aged 21 and 28) A close relation also helps manage 18ha in both summer and winter

Regular cash flow of a split-calving herd

No reliance on contractors as has all slurry, spray, silage and transport etc. machinery himself

Member of the Beef genomics scheme

Reseeds up to 6ha of owned ground every year

Mostly dry ground with excellent growth potential and response to fertiliser

Has chosen a cow type with low maintenance and hardiness from crossbreeding LMxFr for replacements

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Runs a logistics business off farm and a silage contracting business during the summer (bales)

Land is very fragmented. Lots of time lost travelling and moving stock throughout the year.

Wintering facilities split 50/50 in two locations 9km apart

Not involved in any discussion groups or advisory services

Income dependent on what the trade/price is like in the mart on the day of sale

Surrounded by dairy farmers which have an advantage when neighbouring land becomes available for rent/sale (higher more steady income)

All owned land still has repayments to be made (Heavy land bill each year)

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Attend local farm walks, open days and get involved in a KT group

Start measuring grass and possibly look into getting involved in the Better beef farm programme. Overall beef farms stocking rate and grass growth tends to lag behind dairy counterparts - Scope to improve Patrick`s system

Currently grows Kale to decrease winter feed cost but could expand the area of Kale grown

There is a proposed future payment of 200euro per suckler cow which is gaining momentum with the Save Our Sucklers Irish Farmers Journal campaign

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Reliance on off farm income. If this stopped what would happen ?

Brexit- Beef exports ?

Viability of suckler farms currently in doubt- CAP reform post 2020 ?

Both inputs and outputs on the farm is variable each year

Stricter carbon navigators and carbon footprint regulations each year

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The objective is too start measuring grass at least on the owned grazing platforms. Allocate areas to a specific number of animals and work within a strict rotation of matching growth to LU stocking rate

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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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Purchase weighing scales, plate meter and start measuring owned ground weekly

Set up PBI and start to log field covers into it

Apply lime in time for grazing season where needed(soil test)

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Continue to measure owned ground and start to measure rented area

Identify problem paddocks and low production fields and use reseeding plan to improve them

By now all cattle should be regular weighed especially at key times like housing and turn-out

Soil test to monitor progress

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Invest in infrastructure which you think will improve production
E.G. New water troughs, Extra roadway, Different variety grass seeds, Alternative forage(Clover, Kale),

Evaluate system and consider if other systems may be more profitable - Bull beef etc.

Continue to measure all ground to find out production and plot future projections

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Map all paddocks

Soil test entire farm

Split fields that are too large into smaller paddocks for rotational grazing with adequate water troughs

Develop a paddock nutrient plan based on soil test resluts

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Now should have data on entire farm. Use this to improve your system:
Reviewed stocking rate
Area stopped for silage/silage needed
Grass utilisation
Calving pattern
When to sell/finish stores
Need for supplementation?

Try to get involved in Better Farm programme