Grassland Management on Patrick Moloney's Dairy Farm by https://padlet.com/kevin_hartigan/2dim0442u8q4 Introduction, Objectives, SCOT Analysis and 5 year grassland Improvement plan en-us 2017-02-21 09:22:25 UTC 2025-11-26 12:57:44 UTC hello@padlet.com Introduction kevin_hartigan https://padlet.com/kevin_hartigan/2dim0442u8q4/wish/155090992 Irish Dairy is based around seasonal pastural based system and is based on three core principles, 
  • grassland
  • breeding 
  • finical management (Dillion et al., 2008). 

Grazed grass is the cheapest feed source available to Irish dairy farms (O'Keily, 1994) 

The aim of the project is to improve grassland management on the farm of Patrick Moloney. 

Located North-west limerick 

Spring calving dairy herd, heifers kept as replacements and bulls are finished on the farm 
]]> 2017-02-21 09:40:52 UTC https://padlet.com/kevin_hartigan/2dim0442u8q4/wish/155090992 Objectives kevin_hartigan https://padlet.com/kevin_hartigan/2dim0442u8q4/wish/155103004
  • To highlight the current level of grassland management on the farm
  • Generate a 5 year grassland management improvement plan if necessary
  • Increase profitability through better grassland management 
    • ]]>     2017-02-21 10:48:19 UTC https://padlet.com/kevin_hartigan/2dim0442u8q4/wish/155103004     5 year Plan kevin_hartigan https://padlet.com/kevin_hartigan/2dim0442u8q4/wish/155104163 Year 1
    1. Start Grass measuring 
    2. Buy platemeter or quadrant and shears
    3. Buy PastureBase Technology 
    4. Join Origin green programme
    5.  Close 60% of grazing area by November 7th 
    6. Start closing paddocks Oct 10th
    7.  Graze out well 
    Year 2 
    1. Use grassland management software to identify poor performing paddocks 
    2. Reseed poor performing fields
    3. Increase clover in swards
    4.  Reduce Nitrogen fertilizer usage 
    ]]>     2017-02-21 10:57:33 UTC https://padlet.com/kevin_hartigan/2dim0442u8q4/wish/155104163     Year 3 kevin_hartigan https://padlet.com/kevin_hartigan/2dim0442u8q4/wish/155129279
  • Increase stocking rate
  • Soil test the whole farm
  • Increase soil fertility where necessary 
    • Year 4 
    1.  Improving P and K index’s by focusing on using compound fertilizer and slurry efficiently 
    2. Continue reseeding
    Year 5 
    1. Take out paddocks and make surplus bales
    2. Reduce concentrates usage by more grass and grass silage in the diet

    ]]>     2017-02-21 13:18:43 UTC https://padlet.com/kevin_hartigan/2dim0442u8q4/wish/155129279     Current Grassland Management kevin_hartigan https://padlet.com/kevin_hartigan/2dim0442u8q4/wish/155135336
  • Rotational grazing in place
  • Eye balling currently to measure grass
  • Own silage making equipment, makes bales from some paddocks when become too heavy
  • Shortage of grass is an issue 
  • Makes use of early spring N and slurry
  • Reseeded land that is leased recently
    • ]]>     2017-02-21 13:40:08 UTC https://padlet.com/kevin_hartigan/2dim0442u8q4/wish/155135336     kevin_hartigan https://padlet.com/kevin_hartigan/2dim0442u8q4/wish/155155658 2017-02-21 14:32:22 UTC https://padlet.com/kevin_hartigan/2dim0442u8q4/wish/155155658 kevin_hartigan https://padlet.com/kevin_hartigan/2dim0442u8q4/wish/155167654 2017-02-21 15:01:30 UTC https://padlet.com/kevin_hartigan/2dim0442u8q4/wish/155167654