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Rationale for 5 year grassland management plan

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Rationale for 5 year grassland management plan

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Aim to set up an AMS

Must develop a grazing platform that is divided into 3 sections - ABC system
Cows must be getting fresh grass every 8-12 hours to encourage travel to the the robot/fresh pasture

Fields currently in place will be fenced permanently and subdivisions will be made using temporary wires

All ground will be reseeded to increase and begin grass production to meet demand of a 60-70 cow herd.

Narrow cow paths can be put in place as there are many entry points to every field from public roads/rights of way for machinery

The adaption of AM technology can help to solve the  current problems which include land fragmentation  and labour shortage in the dairy industry (O'Donnell, 2014).

The decision to invest in AM should consider  several factors, such as the availability of skilled labour, lifestyle choice of the farmer, interest in technology adaption, and the initial capital investment requirement by the milking system (Shortall et al., 2016).

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28 Ha out farm purchased a few years ago
26.5 Ha available for grazing
Beef and tillage farm
Currently in 3 different sections
1. 7.5 Ha (18.5 acres) permanent grassland
2. 10 Ha (25 acres) arable ground
3. 9 Ha (21.5 acres) after undergoing major contour amendment

Proposal of installing an AMS

Orange line in sketch indicates a farm roadway which was installed during the levelling of the field (section 2)

Soil types vary from peat to clay loam.

Stocked at approx 2.5 LU /Ha during the grazing season
Cattle may be outwintered if forage crop is grown following a winter crop being harvested on the tillage ground.

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Varying soil types, will be better able to cope with different climatic conditions

Moderate grazing infrastructure in place on the grassland and re-contoured field

Water and electricity supply already present

Soil fertility being addressed currently

Yard/Sheds located in the centre of the farm

Ideal for an AMS due to proximity of land to central point

The farm is stocked lowly presently and it will be unlikely that the whole farm will be in derogation with current plans.

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Major road dividing the farm with 17.5 acres across a secondary road.

Farm is an outfarm - very little infrastructure suitable for livestock housing

Soil fertility- tillage ground will need P and K build up. Re contoured land will become uneven and will definetely need nutrient build up in certain areas of the field.

Farm owner doesn't grass measure and skills on grassland management are only average as the farm is stocked lowly overall.

Sucklers and beef is the current enterprise in place so current knowledge of dairying is limited

Some land may require drainage works

Land base will too small to support grazing full time at the shoulders of the year so zero grazing another farm may be required to keep grass in the diet at these times

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Potential to make an increased net profit on the farm by converting to dairying enterprise

Farm owner has an opportunity to upskill and will be exposed to excellent advice from me

Huge potential to grow grass. unknown kg dm of grass per ha/year but it has a potential to reach 12-14 t DM /Ha

Higher welfare standards with an outdoor AMS compared to conventional systems

In close proximity to an integrated pig unit, have to opportunity to build up soil fertility in a cost effective way

New grass varieties becoming available for production and methane reduction becoming available

Varying soil types so mutlispecies swards and clover can be incorporated

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Cost of setting up grazing infrastructure for an AMS grazing platfrom

Milk price volatilty could threaten the viability and profitability of the project

Extra investment will be required to  construct an underpass under the road to allow access to the section of the farm

Labour- Farm owner will be reducing his labour inpput to the farm overall and i intend on having a full time job so a full  time hired labour unit may be required to run the new dairy set up and the other suckler and beef farms.

Environmental restrictions on fertiliser application could limit the stocking rate on the farm to optimise the output from the robot

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Continue to improve on soil fertility. Identify any poorer performing paddocks using the results from grass measuring and rectify issues identified

Get farm owner to join a grass focused and/or AMS discussion group(s)

Complete 40+ grass walks in the year and upload to PastureBase and use budgeting features of the database.

Reseed all of section 3 and build up soil P and K levels after continuous tillage.

A high tetraploid mix could be sown as the soil conditions will favour frequent grazing. Clover may be incorporated also.

Put permanent fencing around all field perimeters and extend the roadway to the south and east.

Install water troughs along roadways.

Subdivide each of the paddocks in sections 2 and 3 to create a total of 20

Build cubicle accommodation for a 72 cow herd

Inseminate heifers and rotationally  graze the farm with heifers and beef cattle

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Buy a plate meter to measure grass and upload to pasture base.

Continue to improve soil fertility on both sections

Complete some drainage works if necessary and clean all open drains

Reseed 4 furthest away paddocks (4.2 Ha) in section 1.

Sow productive diploids as the soil is heavy.

Install a 3m lane through the middle of section 1 as far as the river and build  a bridge to allow animals to cross. Materials will be sourced from owned material.

Install water troughs in each of the 6 paddocks

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Install underpass under road after seeking planning permission

Reseed the remainder of section 1 (3.3 Ha) once  grounds works have been completed

Seed mix with tetraploids, diploids and clover will be sown.

Continue to measure grass and try to complete 30+ walks per year and upload details to PastureBase.

Soil test all sections of the farm.

Sow winter forage crop on tillage land once winter cereal crop has been removed

Purchase dairy heifer calves and rear them on the home farm.

Rotationally graze the heifers throughout the year and graze the forage crop for the winter

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Install AMS

Calve all heifers and aim to have them goin to grass as soon as they calve (Feb)

Implement an ABC system of grazing

Divide each of the 20 paddocks (not all divided simultaneously) into 3 sections.

Be competent in using PastureBase and be able to create and understand Autumn and Spring rotation planners.

Continue to do 40+ grass walks per year.

Incorporate zero grazed grass into the diet if necessary from another farm.

Improve grassland management skills and maintain high levels of grass quality at all times to encourage passes through the robot

Clover may be included in grass seed mixtures or over sown to decrease the reliance on artificial N.

Zero graze some of the beef farms to maintain grass in the diets of cows.

Purchase high yielding empty cows if possible or feasible when cows are housed and being dried off. Take in calf cows to cubicle accommodation on the home farm.

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Soil test all fields and potential new divisions that will be made

Reseed section 2 in the spring, Brassica crop currently being grazed off it.

Could sow a mutli species mix as the soil may be compacted and soil layers are mixed.

Apply lime to any field that requires it following soil tests. 5.5t/ha was spread in section 1 in 2019.

Divide section 2 into 3 paddocks with permanent fencing

Install water troughs in each paddock and a high capacity water pipe in section 2

Section 3 will remain in tillage for 2020

Continue to graze only sections 1 and two with beef animals.

Below is a soil fertility report for section 1 and 3 from when the land was purchased