Developments in Grassland by Eamonn Shanahan https://padlet.com/eamonnshanahan1/5bxexwps5482 5 year grassland management plan for a dairy farm in Co. Limerick en-us 2019-01-28 14:41:10 UTC 2025-11-16 05:00:43 UTC hello@padlet.com Background Information / Introduction eamonnshanahan1 https://padlet.com/eamonnshanahan1/5bxexwps5482/wish/324939553
  • Kerry/Teagasc monitor farms grew on average 11.4 t DM/ ha
  • Increasing utilization of grass by 1 ton of dry mater on dairy farms can increase farm profits by €181 ha ( O Leary et al, 2016)
  •  Dairy farmers should set a target of increasing grass utilisation to 10 tonnes/ha  (DAFM, 2015)

    • ]]>     2019-01-28 14:42:51 UTC https://padlet.com/eamonnshanahan1/5bxexwps5482/wish/324939553     Production System eamonnshanahan1 https://padlet.com/eamonnshanahan1/5bxexwps5482/wish/324944957
  • 85 spring calving cows 
  • 560 Kg/MS
  • Cattle 0-1    85
  • Cattle 1-2    120
  • Stock Bulls 3
  • ha milking platform
  •  ha out-farm 3 km away
  • 39 ha out-farm 12 km away
    • ]]>     2019-01-28 14:48:07 UTC https://padlet.com/eamonnshanahan1/5bxexwps5482/wish/324944957     Strengths eamonnshanahan1 https://padlet.com/eamonnshanahan1/5bxexwps5482/wish/324946490
  • Has cow suited for system Ho x Fr
  • Excellent potential to grow large volumes of grass as dry soil and favourable climate
  • Milking platform in one block
  • Infrastructure on farm is quiet good
  • Reseeding 1 or 2 poor performing paddock each year
  • Soil testing every 3 years
  • Willing to adopt new technologies in future
    • ]]>     2019-01-28 14:50:15 UTC https://padlet.com/eamonnshanahan1/5bxexwps5482/wish/324946490     Challenges eamonnshanahan1 https://padlet.com/eamonnshanahan1/5bxexwps5482/wish/324950644
  • In full-time education 
  • Not in a Dairy Discussion Group
  • Herd Health - TB in area
  • Difficult to allocate time weekly to walk and measure farm
  • Improving a very compact 6 week calving rate to optimise full utilisation of grass
    • ]]>     2019-01-28 14:54:18 UTC https://padlet.com/eamonnshanahan1/5bxexwps5482/wish/324950644     Threats eamonnshanahan1 https://padlet.com/eamonnshanahan1/5bxexwps5482/wish/324952749
  • Severe weather patterns
  • Increasingly hard to find good skilled labour
  • Increasing costs of inputs
    • Concentrates
    • Fertiliser
    • Labour
  • Milk price variability
  • Farmer health due to one man operation
  • Social ethics - veganism 
    • ]]>     2019-01-28 14:56:55 UTC https://padlet.com/eamonnshanahan1/5bxexwps5482/wish/324952749     Opportunities eamonnshanahan1 https://padlet.com/eamonnshanahan1/5bxexwps5482/wish/324954402
  • Join Diary Discussion Group and a grass focused group
  • Buy grass measuring equipment, start measuring and using Pasture Base Ireland
  • Get farm mapped professionally
  • Increase number of dairy cows and reduce beef numbers
  • Create detailed individual paddock nutrient management plan
    • ]]>     2019-01-28 14:59:04 UTC https://padlet.com/eamonnshanahan1/5bxexwps5482/wish/324954402     Farm Location eamonnshanahan1 https://padlet.com/eamonnshanahan1/5bxexwps5482/wish/324956070 2019-01-28 15:01:56 UTC https://padlet.com/eamonnshanahan1/5bxexwps5482/wish/324956070 Objectives of 5 year Grassland Management Plan eamonnshanahan1 https://padlet.com/eamonnshanahan1/5bxexwps5482/wish/324959539 The objective of the grassland management plan is to:
    • Start detailed grass measuring and budgeting
    • Increase the amount of grass grown and utilized on farm
    • Allow for the increase of dairy numbers

    ]]>     2019-01-28 15:06:27 UTC https://padlet.com/eamonnshanahan1/5bxexwps5482/wish/324959539     Year 1 eamonnshanahan1 https://padlet.com/eamonnshanahan1/5bxexwps5482/wish/324960670
  • Soil test each paddock individually
  • Get farm mapped professionally 
  • Use the Nutrient Management Plan (NMP) for each paddock
  • Join a Dairy Discussion Group
    • ]]>     2019-01-28 15:08:22 UTC https://padlet.com/eamonnshanahan1/5bxexwps5482/wish/324960670     Year 2 eamonnshanahan1 https://padlet.com/eamonnshanahan1/5bxexwps5482/wish/324961247
  • Buy grass measuring equipment, start measuring and uploading data to an online data base
  • Keep using NMP and liming plan to increase soil fertility
    • ]]>     2019-01-28 15:09:18 UTC https://padlet.com/eamonnshanahan1/5bxexwps5482/wish/324961247     Year 3 eamonnshanahan1 https://padlet.com/eamonnshanahan1/5bxexwps5482/wish/324962401
  • Continue grass measuring weekly
  • Use the NMP for each paddock 
  • Late autumn soil test all individual paddocks to see progress
  • Join a grass focused group
    • ]]>     2019-01-28 15:11:09 UTC https://padlet.com/eamonnshanahan1/5bxexwps5482/wish/324962401     Year 4 eamonnshanahan1 https://padlet.com/eamonnshanahan1/5bxexwps5482/wish/324963690
  • Continue weekly grass measurements
  • Implement the new NMP for each paddock
  • Ear mark poorly performing paddocks,2 years data, for reseeding and include tetraploid varieties
  • Start measuring out-farm production
  • Focus on increasing production from grazed grass and silage quality
    • ]]>     2019-01-28 15:13:33 UTC https://padlet.com/eamonnshanahan1/5bxexwps5482/wish/324963690     Year 5 eamonnshanahan1 https://padlet.com/eamonnshanahan1/5bxexwps5482/wish/324964969
  • Continue weekly grass measurements
  • With 3 years data collected review: 
    • Calving Date
    • Optimum Stocking Rate

    • Restructure and remap farm professionally professionally
      • New layouts, access points, water troughs, spur roadways

    ]]>     2019-01-28 15:15:48 UTC https://padlet.com/eamonnshanahan1/5bxexwps5482/wish/324964969     eamonnshanahan1 https://padlet.com/eamonnshanahan1/5bxexwps5482/wish/335278470 2019-02-26 10:09:26 UTC https://padlet.com/eamonnshanahan1/5bxexwps5482/wish/335278470