Grassland padlet for Jim O Leary by Eoghan O Doherty https://padlet.com/eoghan_o_doherty/3fwfbyqpiyjk Made with magic en-us 2017-02-23 09:08:43 UTC 2025-11-19 02:26:15 UTC hello@padlet.com Introduction eoghan_o_doherty https://padlet.com/eoghan_o_doherty/3fwfbyqpiyjk/wish/155686386
  • Grass is the cheapest feed to produce due to our climate (7c/kgDM)
  • Focus of this project os to identify poor performing paddocks and develop a plan of action to improve performance
  • Farm located in south Tipperary between Cahir and Clonmel (see map)
  • Small scale dairy farm on  37ha milking 55 holstein cows
    • ]]>     2017-02-23 09:16:37 UTC https://padlet.com/eoghan_o_doherty/3fwfbyqpiyjk/wish/155686386     Farm layout eoghan_o_doherty https://padlet.com/eoghan_o_doherty/3fwfbyqpiyjk/wish/155689359 Located 2 miles from Ardfinnan, the farm yard is located in the center of the milking block with silage cut on the farthest away paddocks.]]> 2017-02-23 09:35:59 UTC https://padlet.com/eoghan_o_doherty/3fwfbyqpiyjk/wish/155689359 Objectives eoghan_o_doherty https://padlet.com/eoghan_o_doherty/3fwfbyqpiyjk/wish/156419471
  • To show the current level of grassland management on the farm.
  • Identify the lowest performing paddocks and develop a 5 year grassland managment plan
    • ]]>     2017-02-27 14:43:07 UTC https://padlet.com/eoghan_o_doherty/3fwfbyqpiyjk/wish/156419471     SCOT ANALYSIS eoghan_o_doherty https://padlet.com/eoghan_o_doherty/3fwfbyqpiyjk/wish/156423972 Strengths
    • Weekly grass measurement and recording on Pasturebase
    • Management plan decisions based on grass growth measurements

    Challanges
    • Age of farmer
    • Spring growth is low in some paddocks making early grazing a challange
    • Certain paddocks are prone to drought in the summer while others are prone to flooding over the winter and spring.

    Opportunities 
    • reseed worst performing paddocks
    • implement drainage in the flood risk areas

    Threats
    • milk price volatility
    ]]>     2017-02-27 14:52:33 UTC https://padlet.com/eoghan_o_doherty/3fwfbyqpiyjk/wish/156423972     Current Grassland Management eoghan_o_doherty https://padlet.com/eoghan_o_doherty/3fwfbyqpiyjk/wish/156436650
  • Weekly grass measurement and recording on Pasturebase using the quadrant and shears method
  • Rotational grazing, back-fencing of young stock whenever possible
  • Soil tests of every paddock has been done for the last three years
  • On/off grazing starts as early as possible in the spring for the milking cows, Heifers are let out later full-time.
  • Reseeded 8.5ha in the past 3 years. 

    • ]]>     2017-02-27 15:21:10 UTC https://padlet.com/eoghan_o_doherty/3fwfbyqpiyjk/wish/156436650     Five Year Plan eoghan_o_doherty https://padlet.com/eoghan_o_doherty/3fwfbyqpiyjk/wish/156444059 Year One
    • Using Pasturebase identify the poorest performing paddocks. Compare to the soil results to see if soil fertility is an issue.
    • Compare the performance of the monculture paddocks and the mixes to see what works best on the farm

    Year Two
    • Reseed poor performing paddocks.
    • Continue to work on soil fertility
    • Monitor flood risk paddocks

    Year Three
    • Implement more drainage if needed in certain paddocks
    • Continue reseeding on the farm
    • Take more soil tests to monitor fertility

    Year Four
    • Continue reseeding and improving soil fertility
    • Aim to increase grass utilisation by grazing out paddocks
    Year Five
    • Continue reseeding and soil fertility improvement
    • Increase stocking rate to increase production on the farm
    ]]>     2017-02-27 15:37:09 UTC https://padlet.com/eoghan_o_doherty/3fwfbyqpiyjk/wish/156444059