The importance of a grassland management wall by Martin Ryan

Background

martin_ryan5 — 2020-02-17 15:32:49 UTC

Massive variation in DM on Irish dairy farms ranging from 8 - 18T of DM (Nikoloski et al., 2019).

Only 21% of dairy farms are measuring grass growth on pasture base (O'Learly, 2019).

Massive potential to grow large quantities of grass, excellent climate.

Adoption rates of the SRP amongst farmers have been low (Hyland et al., 2018).

Current farm system
60 dairy cows.
Grazing platform 55 acres.
16 acres of silage removed
Spring calving.
Average cow size. 550 - 600kg.
Days at grass <280.
1 tonne of concentrate feed per cow.
Cows often in Covers >2000 kg/dm/ha

Strengths

martin_ryan5 — 2020-02-17 15:32:49 UTC

Family is young option to expand if land come available.

All of the farm has been reseeded in the last 20 years.

Soil fertility is good, lime and slurry spread regularly.

Farm has a good level of infrastructure.

Paddocks are set up on pasture base, just not measuring on a regular basis.

Farm is able to produce large quantities of grass.

When grass growth is good, paddocks are taken out on a weekly basis.

Challenges

martin_ryan5 — 2020-02-17 15:32:49 UTC

20% of the farm can become very wet.

Farmer is old, and unsure what direction the farm will follow.

Land a massive barrier to expansion.
Late calving, does not have the demand for grass in the spring, hard to meet SRP demands.

Lack of water troughs on farm, back fence can not be used.

If spring comes wet grazing can be a massive issue.

Time can be a issue.

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Opportunities

martin_ryan5 — 2020-02-17 15:33:51 UTC

Attend farm walk and open days.

Measuring grass equipment available.

Increase profitability on farm.

Have more farm walks on the farm from the local discussion group.

Grassland farmer of the year.

Parts of farm could grow up to 16T/DM

Pig unit close by potential to utilize nutrients from that.

Threats

martin_ryan5 — 2020-02-17 15:34:16 UTC

Price of inputs (fertilizer and grass seed)
Land a barrier for a expansion.

Will 60 cows be sufficient.

Weather, susceptible to drought or land saturation.

Labour required for spring, access becoming more difficult.

Bull calves.

Brexit

Year one

martin_ryan5 — 2020-02-17 15:35:35 UTC

Soil test entire farm.

Start reseeding again, 12% of the grazing platform.

Increase amounts of grass walks.

Increase water troughs.

Get cows back in calf earlier.

start zero graze some off out blocks

Year two

martin_ryan5 — 2020-02-17 15:35:47 UTC

Spread fertilizer based on soil test results.

Spur roadways for the spring.
Meet demands in the spring for the SRP.

Contract rear heifers.

Introduce more cows into herd

No silage removed from grazing platform.
Pregrazing yield 1600 max.

Cut the meal feed by half.

Year three

martin_ryan5 — 2020-02-17 15:35:54 UTC

Monitor progass over the two years on pasture base.

Reseed underperforing paddocks.
Increase the gaps on paddocks.

Backfence when land becomes wet.

Stocking rate increased, monitor
progress.

Year four

martin_ryan5 — 2020-02-17 15:36:00 UTC

50% of farm now reseeded.

Look at data from pasture base, to see if stock numbers can be increased further.

Enter for grassland farmer of the year.

Year five

martin_ryan5 — 2020-02-17 15:36:05 UTC

Evaluate overall performance in last 4 yours.
Any other improvements to be made.
Challenges along the way.

Has increased grass in cows diet, improved performance and resulted in more profits for the farm.

Did increasing SR have any limitations on the farm.

Grass based system

martin_ryan5 — 2020-02-17 16:34:54 UTC