https://padlet.com/andrew_donovan/4eqecfcjl6ha Made with fortitude en-us 2017-02-21 09:10:38 UTC 2025-12-23 19:15:17 UTC hello@padlet.com andrew_donovan https://padlet.com/andrew_donovan/4eqecfcjl6ha/wish/155087781

High grass production and utilization are very important for an efficient, intensive and sustainable dairy enterprise.

The purpose of the project is to generate methods that will increase grass production and utilization on the farm of Matt Donovan.

Located in East Cork.

20 ha in, all in permanent grassland.

]]> 2017-02-21 09:21:09 UTC https://padlet.com/andrew_donovan/4eqecfcjl6ha/wish/155087781 andrew_donovan https://padlet.com/andrew_donovan/4eqecfcjl6ha/wish/155530141

To outline current grassland management practices on the farm

To put together a 5 year grassland management plan specific to the farm.

]]> 2017-02-22 17:31:50 UTC https://padlet.com/andrew_donovan/4eqecfcjl6ha/wish/155530141 andrew_donovan https://padlet.com/andrew_donovan/4eqecfcjl6ha/wish/155537951 Strengths:

•  Good dry ground
• Good potential for grass growth

]]> 2017-02-22 17:51:55 UTC https://padlet.com/andrew_donovan/4eqecfcjl6ha/wish/155537951 andrew_donovan https://padlet.com/andrew_donovan/4eqecfcjl6ha/wish/155539460 Challenges:

• Age profile of farmer
• Drain on cashflow
• Price volatility

]]> 2017-02-22 17:55:42 UTC https://padlet.com/andrew_donovan/4eqecfcjl6ha/wish/155539460 andrew_donovan https://padlet.com/andrew_donovan/4eqecfcjl6ha/wish/155541087 Opportunities:

• Higher grass growth, utilization, stocking rate and milk output.

]]> 2017-02-22 17:59:40 UTC https://padlet.com/andrew_donovan/4eqecfcjl6ha/wish/155541087 andrew_donovan https://padlet.com/andrew_donovan/4eqecfcjl6ha/wish/155542915

Capital availability

Poor milk price

]]> 2017-02-22 18:03:51 UTC https://padlet.com/andrew_donovan/4eqecfcjl6ha/wish/155542915 andrew_donovan https://padlet.com/andrew_donovan/4eqecfcjl6ha/wish/155544187

Very little

Cows graze via rotation. 

Cows generally turned out from mid-February onward.

N spread on every area after grazing either chemical or organic.

Reseeded 2 acres three years ago

Very little reseeding carried out prior to this.

]]> 2017-02-22 18:07:06 UTC https://padlet.com/andrew_donovan/4eqecfcjl6ha/wish/155544187 andrew_donovan https://padlet.com/andrew_donovan/4eqecfcjl6ha/wish/155548216 Year 1:

• Begin grass measuring.
• Buy Pasturebase/Agrinet software.
• Blanket spread two tonne of  Ground limestone across whole farm.

Year 2:

• Blanket Spread one tonne of ground lime across farm.
• Insert Roadway on farm, more water troughs and paddock entrances.
• Identify poorest performing paddocks via grassland management software.
• Reseed poorest performing/
• Incorporate clover into reseeding mix.
• Soil test at end of year.

]]> 2017-02-22 18:17:17 UTC https://padlet.com/andrew_donovan/4eqecfcjl6ha/wish/155548216 andrew_donovan https://padlet.com/andrew_donovan/4eqecfcjl6ha/wish/156258370 Year 3:

• Improve soil fertility.
• Continue reseeding.
• Continue grass measuring.

Year 4:

• Continue improving  soil fertility.
• continue grass measuring.
• Continue grass measuring.

Year 5:

• Continue improving  soil fertility.
• Continue grass measuring.
• Continue grass measuring.
• Insert another Roadway, more water troughs, paddocks and paddock entrances if economically viable.

]]> 2017-02-26 17:31:16 UTC https://padlet.com/andrew_donovan/4eqecfcjl6ha/wish/156258370 andrew_donovan https://padlet.com/andrew_donovan/4eqecfcjl6ha/wish/156581545 2017-02-27 22:18:14 UTC https://padlet.com/andrew_donovan/4eqecfcjl6ha/wish/156581545 andrew_donovan https://padlet.com/andrew_donovan/4eqecfcjl6ha/wish/156581991 2017-02-27 22:20:40 UTC https://padlet.com/andrew_donovan/4eqecfcjl6ha/wish/156581991