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Suckler to Finish
Pedigree Angus Farm
Pedigree Bulls Out wintered

Purchase weanlings and dry cows each year from Clare Island off the coast of Mayo

60:40 Dry Land

77 ha - Split into 2 main blocks
Cattle 0-1 40
1-2 35
2+  50

Stock Bulls - 2

Calving all Year Round

Currently no Grass measuring on the farm

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To grow and utilise more grass coupled with an increased stocking rate and to reduce reliance on concentrates on the finishing part of the farm.

To start measuring and improvemanagement and utilisation of grass growth is of most importance.

To couple the expansion of Pedigree Herd with grass system reducing the use of concentrates.

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Cow type chosen to suit the land and system - AA purebred and cross

Soil testing - last soil test 2015

Reseeding Programme- 10 ha /yr

KT member

Willingness to learn and progress member of Beef Genomics Scheme

Roadway Infrastructure already in some fields for future paddock divisions

Mostly dry ground

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Price taker at the beef factory

Labour availability - farmer full time, student at weekends

Viability of Suckler Farms

Cashflow for investment in infrastructure , reseeding

West of Ireland - land type, extra rainfall

Last Year 2nd Cut Silage was never made due to the weather - out wintered heifers until January , focus on Silage deadline for the future

With calving all year round - several divisions/ paddock systems are required

Health Status of the Herd - TB, knock on consequences for selling pedigree bulls

Not a member of grass focused Discussion Group

Genetic focused farmer - pedigree cattle, attention needs to be given more to grassland

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Technology (DST) - Pasture Base

Incentive to join DG in the area

Attend more grass focused farm walks

Participate in grass open evenings in the local Teagasc Office

Availability of neighbouring land - expansion

Increase SR and Utilisation

BETTER Farms - relateable farms with beef systems

Expansion of the dairy herd - more demand for Angus Bulls - cashflow

Ability to Sell Breeding Pedigree Bulls directly off Grass - reduce/ eliminate need for concentrates

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Extreme weather - last winter excess rainfall

Price of product - finishing section of the farm (Brexit)

Increased price of concentrate , fertiliser - main inputs on the farm

Environmental Regulations - Carbon Navigator , GHG

Future of CAP Budget

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Soil Test

Nutrient Plan

Silage Analysis

Mapping

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Assess weed issue

Implement Rotational Grazing

Measure once a month

Drainage Plan

Silage Plan

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Increase to weekly measuring

Retest Soils

Grazing Plan - 60:40 planner etc

Reseeding started on older grass paddocks

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Using two years data assess performance of the farm to date.

Reseed problem paddocks based on data collected

Winter Feed Budget

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Weekly Measuring

Implement Paddock System

Look into Forage Brassica options - suitability

Out wintering options

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Grass 10

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Grass10 - Teagasc | Agriculture and Food Development Authority

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Teagasc recognises that the collaboration of a number of organisations in the Irish agri-food industry is required to achieve the Grass10 objectives. Currently the Grass10 campaign is supported by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; AIB; FBD Trust; Grassland Agro; and the Farmers Journal.

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PastureBase Ireland. PastureBaseIreland is a grassland management decision support tool and a mechanism to capture background data on farms.