https://padlet.com/thomas_treacy_1/5s4t40qxtjg8 Student Number: 15364941 en-us 2019-02-13 14:43:45 UTC 2023-03-30 18:02:29 UTC hello@padlet.com thomas_treacy_1 https://padlet.com/thomas_treacy_1/5s4t40qxtjg8/wish/330824032 Irish farms are only producing 50% of their grass growth capability and therefore, grass production is limiting output.

Currently on average there is a utilization rate of 5.4t/dm/ha/year on beef farms with this ranging from 4.7-5.8t/dm/ha.

Stocking rates on Irish beef farms are generally quite low (1.2 livestock units (LU)/ha on average [NFS, 2016]). 

Consuming grass-fed beef can help more people to meet their dietary recommendations for total fat, saturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids.
(Dr. McNulty, 18)

]]> 2019-02-13 14:47:25 UTC https://padlet.com/thomas_treacy_1/5s4t40qxtjg8/wish/330824032 thomas_treacy_1 https://padlet.com/thomas_treacy_1/5s4t40qxtjg8/wish/330840789 Suckler beef system evident with a weanling enterprise which are destined for mart sales and finishing enterprises. 

50 spring calving cows.
50-70 weanling store cattle (bought and kept until the end of the autumn grazing period.

1 stock bull. 

120 ha farm split between land surrounding the farm house (90 ha) and across the road (30ha).]]> 2019-02-13 15:12:58 UTC https://padlet.com/thomas_treacy_1/5s4t40qxtjg8/wish/330840789 thomas_treacy_1 https://padlet.com/thomas_treacy_1/5s4t40qxtjg8/wish/330846415 Young farmer (25 years of age).
Educated with the green cert qualification.

Member of Macra where sufficient information is passed on through members where they can benefit from one another. 

Willing to progress with the correct guidance.

80% of the farm on relatively dry and flat ground.

Potential to excessively improve grass utilisation on both sections of the farm. 

The farmer in question has the option to change his type of cattle each year in order for him to adapt to his chosen grassland management plan.]]> 2019-02-13 15:21:29 UTC https://padlet.com/thomas_treacy_1/5s4t40qxtjg8/wish/330846415 thomas_treacy_1 https://padlet.com/thomas_treacy_1/5s4t40qxtjg8/wish/330851791 Limited machinery available which would require local contractors to carry out the majority of work with regards to reseeding.

The only farm employee which limits time available to focus on outside management of his livestock.

Beef price having a profound affect on the development and progression of the farm on a yearly basis. 

Costs of inputs (fertilisers).

The farm has been infected with TB with babesia and lungworm consistent problems due to some of the land being near scrub areas.

Consistent stone walls which may slow down the management programme. 
Small paddocks evident which potentially could be better managed joined together with other paddocks. 

Stoney ground evident in the majority of the land which is a significant problem to the reseeding process.


]]> 2019-02-13 15:29:27 UTC https://padlet.com/thomas_treacy_1/5s4t40qxtjg8/wish/330851791 thomas_treacy_1 https://padlet.com/thomas_treacy_1/5s4t40qxtjg8/wish/330857193 Join with a teagasc advisor to learn about available funding to support reseeding programmes.
 
Join a programme to further his knowledge on grassland management (better farm).

Potentially join an online service to manage his grassland (Pasturebase).


Join potential initiatives (KT) to attend grass walks.

Invest in some grassland measuring tools which may help in the delegation of stocking rates etc.

Areas available to limit disease and promote healthy management of livestock with regards to different systems such as the leader-follower system.



]]> 2019-02-13 15:37:39 UTC https://padlet.com/thomas_treacy_1/5s4t40qxtjg8/wish/330857193 thomas_treacy_1 https://padlet.com/thomas_treacy_1/5s4t40qxtjg8/wish/330865693 Weather conditions have been unreliable in recent years. A 5 year plan could potentially be difficult to follow.

Labour is a restricting resource with only one farm labourer on the farm.

Profit margins are significantly tight with beef prices having a large effect on the completion of this plan.

Brexit has a large role in the continuation of both suckler and finishing systems. It is difficult to know how dependable prices of beef and inputs may vary with the diverse range of products necessary for reseeding and management plans. ]]> 2019-02-13 15:51:07 UTC https://padlet.com/thomas_treacy_1/5s4t40qxtjg8/wish/330865693 thomas_treacy_1 https://padlet.com/thomas_treacy_1/5s4t40qxtjg8/wish/330973697 2019-02-13 18:42:30 UTC https://padlet.com/thomas_treacy_1/5s4t40qxtjg8/wish/330973697 thomas_treacy_1 https://padlet.com/thomas_treacy_1/5s4t40qxtjg8/wish/331003518 2019-02-13 19:31:00 UTC https://padlet.com/thomas_treacy_1/5s4t40qxtjg8/wish/331003518 thomas_treacy_1 https://padlet.com/thomas_treacy_1/5s4t40qxtjg8/wish/331003817 2019-02-13 19:31:33 UTC https://padlet.com/thomas_treacy_1/5s4t40qxtjg8/wish/331003817 thomas_treacy_1 https://padlet.com/thomas_treacy_1/5s4t40qxtjg8/wish/331004895 2019-02-13 19:33:29 UTC https://padlet.com/thomas_treacy_1/5s4t40qxtjg8/wish/331004895 thomas_treacy_1 https://padlet.com/thomas_treacy_1/5s4t40qxtjg8/wish/332002454 2019-02-16 14:47:17 UTC https://padlet.com/thomas_treacy_1/5s4t40qxtjg8/wish/332002454 thomas_treacy_1 https://padlet.com/thomas_treacy_1/5s4t40qxtjg8/wish/334901297 Develop a nutrient plan.

Updating infrastructure on the farm (fencing, Water troughs etc).

Soil test relevant areas throughout the farm.

Attend all KT meetings along with attending grass talks when able in Moorepark, Co. Cork.

Depending on funding, reseed 10% of the farm in the first year.

]]> 2019-02-25 15:30:15 UTC https://padlet.com/thomas_treacy_1/5s4t40qxtjg8/wish/334901297 thomas_treacy_1 https://padlet.com/thomas_treacy_1/5s4t40qxtjg8/wish/334902286 Begin following a grassland management rotation strategy.

Enter pre and post grazing heights into pasturebase. Aim for 4cm residual on all swards. 

Continue to monitor improvements using PBI.

Reseed 10% of the farm.]]> 2019-02-25 15:31:46 UTC https://padlet.com/thomas_treacy_1/5s4t40qxtjg8/wish/334902286 thomas_treacy_1 https://padlet.com/thomas_treacy_1/5s4t40qxtjg8/wish/334903351 Continue to increase stocking rate and improve efficiency where possible.

Reseed another 10% of the farm where applicable. 

Soil test again to identify improvements/deficiencies.

Test DM of the grass.

]]> 2019-02-25 15:33:24 UTC https://padlet.com/thomas_treacy_1/5s4t40qxtjg8/wish/334903351 thomas_treacy_1 https://padlet.com/thomas_treacy_1/5s4t40qxtjg8/wish/334905070 Use grass measuring data from the beginning of the plan to identify what swards are progressing and indentify swards with poor returns. 

Review stocking rates, animal intake, profit margins and supplementation limits since the beginning of the plan.

Reseed a further 10% of the farm.]]> 2019-02-25 15:36:05 UTC https://padlet.com/thomas_treacy_1/5s4t40qxtjg8/wish/334905070 thomas_treacy_1 https://padlet.com/thomas_treacy_1/5s4t40qxtjg8/wish/334906391 From gaining the relevant results from year 4, draw up a correlation plan from the beginning off the plan to the present. 

Change relevant systems where needed with regards to sward allocations, infrastructure, rotation plans.

Continue to further measure and budget grass allocations and further increase grass efficiency on the farm in question. 

Reseed another 10% of the farm. (more if funding is available).]]> 2019-02-25 15:38:07 UTC https://padlet.com/thomas_treacy_1/5s4t40qxtjg8/wish/334906391 thomas_treacy_1 https://padlet.com/thomas_treacy_1/5s4t40qxtjg8/wish/334924941 2019-02-25 16:05:42 UTC https://padlet.com/thomas_treacy_1/5s4t40qxtjg8/wish/334924941