Grassland Management Plan (5 Year) by Stephen Hyde https://padlet.com/stephen_hyde/84xq3pw0atta Completion of grassland management plan for our family beef farm located in Aughrim Co. Galway en-us 2020-02-11 10:52:10 UTC 2023-02-19 11:56:38 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/1f402.png Background stephen_hyde https://padlet.com/stephen_hyde/84xq3pw0atta/wish/443580124 The average farm utilizes 7.1 t of grass DM/ha (Creighton e al., 2011).

More efficient farms are utilizing in excess of 12-14 t of grass DM/ha over a 280 day grazing season (shallow et al., 2011). 

Grass is the most cost effective feed available to all ruminant livestock production systems (Finneran et al., 2010)

CASE STUDY FARM:
Beef Farm 
Suckler to weaning 

20 spring calving cows
15 autumn calving cows
1 stock bull 
70 acres in block A
30 acres in block B



]]> 2020-02-11 10:52:25 UTC https://padlet.com/stephen_hyde/84xq3pw0atta/wish/443580124 Strengths stephen_hyde https://padlet.com/stephen_hyde/84xq3pw0atta/wish/443580427 Good grass growth potential.

Annual soil and silage testing.

10% of farm reseeded annually.

Good infrastructure (roadways + fencing).

Children identified as successors. 

Member of discussion group + attends open/demonstration days. 

Potential for improved layout, paddocks. 

Animals weighed at 5 months old and again at 8 months.]]> 2020-02-11 10:53:19 UTC https://padlet.com/stephen_hyde/84xq3pw0atta/wish/443580427 Challenges stephen_hyde https://padlet.com/stephen_hyde/84xq3pw0atta/wish/443580589 Heavy soils.

Some parts of land poorly drained.
 
Works full time with other family business.

Cash flow an issue for investment.
 
Weeds and invasive species. 

Current low beef price. 

Copper deficiency on the farm. 

Worm and fluke problem on the farm.

]]> 2020-02-11 10:53:45 UTC https://padlet.com/stephen_hyde/84xq3pw0atta/wish/443580589 Opportunities stephen_hyde https://padlet.com/stephen_hyde/84xq3pw0atta/wish/443580673 Adopt grass measuring. 

Investment in grass measuring technology and other farm technologies.

Join a grass based discussion group.
 
Join pasture base.

Increase SR.

Change of enterprise (dairy). 

Partnership with Son.

Change breeding policy to suit soil type (Lighter Breeding Cows).

]]> 2020-02-11 10:53:58 UTC https://padlet.com/stephen_hyde/84xq3pw0atta/wish/443580673 Threats stephen_hyde https://padlet.com/stephen_hyde/84xq3pw0atta/wish/443580892 Weather conditions - wet land

Peaty land, needs constant drainage 

Block B difficult to access 

Price of inputs e.g fertiliser and meal.

Current beef markets/prices.

Brexit and Brazilian beef.

]]> 2020-02-11 10:54:29 UTC https://padlet.com/stephen_hyde/84xq3pw0atta/wish/443580892 Objective of grassland management stephen_hyde https://padlet.com/stephen_hyde/84xq3pw0atta/wish/445985337 The objective on this suckler beef farm is to begin grass measuring and follow an effective grassland management plan. Be able to fully to understand  the data being collected and use this information to maximize grass growth potential. 
Use this data to also increase SR and expand the farm. 
Identify appropriate grazing targets (PGSH, Pre Grazing Mass, days ahead).]]> 2020-02-15 21:43:20 UTC https://padlet.com/stephen_hyde/84xq3pw0atta/wish/445985337 5 Year Action Plan stephen_hyde https://padlet.com/stephen_hyde/84xq3pw0atta/wish/445985763 Year 1:
Take up grass measuring .

Research and learn about grass measuring.

Sign up to PatureBase.

Begin entering data and farm information into PBI.

Increase no. of paddocks on the farm.

Map out farm.

Infrastructure and paddock setup. 

Increase frequency of calf weighing to every 2 months.]]> 2020-02-15 21:47:10 UTC https://padlet.com/stephen_hyde/84xq3pw0atta/wish/445985763 stephen_hyde https://padlet.com/stephen_hyde/84xq3pw0atta/wish/446120704 Year 2: 
Increase grass measuring frequency. 

Improves grassland management practices.

Install sufficient water points in every paddock. 

Ensure farm and paddock infrastructure is fully up to scratch. 

Spray entire farm for weeds. ]]> 2020-02-16 18:42:08 UTC https://padlet.com/stephen_hyde/84xq3pw0atta/wish/446120704 stephen_hyde https://padlet.com/stephen_hyde/84xq3pw0atta/wish/446122518 Year 3:
Weekly grass measuring and cover.

Incorporate data into reseeding management and fertilizer plan. 

Soil testing. 

Adopt calving sensors and Plate Meter (To Reduce workload and Time).

Invest in improved weighing scale and increase animal weighing every month. ]]> 2020-02-16 18:53:20 UTC https://padlet.com/stephen_hyde/84xq3pw0atta/wish/446122518 stephen_hyde https://padlet.com/stephen_hyde/84xq3pw0atta/wish/446497628 Year 4:
Join grass based discussion group and invite other farmers to farm to find any improvements.

Share records and results with discussion groups.

Increase grass utilisation and grass in the diet on the farm.

Improve silage quality. 

Try extend grazing season (Weather permitting). 
]]> 2020-02-17 19:43:14 UTC https://padlet.com/stephen_hyde/84xq3pw0atta/wish/446497628 stephen_hyde https://padlet.com/stephen_hyde/84xq3pw0atta/wish/450259542 Year 5:
Full time grass measuring on the farm and full use of PastureBase.

Study collected data to analyse:
  • Stocking rate.
  • Silage quantity and quality.
  • Expansion.

Establish full reseeding and soil testing plan.

Studying the data collected, possibilities to take out paddocks for other winter forage e.g Kale.

]]> 2020-02-25 17:44:43 UTC https://padlet.com/stephen_hyde/84xq3pw0atta/wish/450259542 Kale as an alternative winter forage crop stephen_hyde https://padlet.com/stephen_hyde/84xq3pw0atta/wish/450647922 2020-02-26 10:25:37 UTC https://padlet.com/stephen_hyde/84xq3pw0atta/wish/450647922