Grassland Management on Kevin Hogan's Dairy farm by https://padlet.com/philip_kennedy1/b5dvowy1okuu Introduction and description of farm, objectives, SCOT analysis and 5 year grassland management improvement plan en-us 2017-02-21 09:44:42 UTC 2025-10-04 20:26:48 UTC hello@padlet.com Introduction: philip_kennedy1 https://padlet.com/philip_kennedy1/b5dvowy1okuu/wish/155197905
  • Project based on the dairy farm (Spring calving) of Kevin Hogan, Monaquill, Ballinaclough, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary 
  • Milked 100 first time calvers in 2016 
  • Currently has 152 in calf cows and heifers for 2017
  • 70 more heifers reared and will be calving next spring
  • Plans to milk in the region of 250-300 cows within 5 years
  • Calves are sold at 3 weeks of age 
  • 140 acres of a grazing platform with 60 acres rented 3 miles away from the parlour
  • 1 full time labour unit along with Tom his father


]]> 2017-02-21 16:13:27 UTC https://padlet.com/philip_kennedy1/b5dvowy1okuu/wish/155197905 Objectives: philip_kennedy1 https://padlet.com/philip_kennedy1/b5dvowy1okuu/wish/155219986
  • Improve the grassland management on the farm 
  • Make a 5 year improvement plan that is achievable, cost saving and useful for the farmer 

    • ]]>     2017-02-21 17:01:58 UTC https://padlet.com/philip_kennedy1/b5dvowy1okuu/wish/155219986     5 YEAR PLAN philip_kennedy1 https://padlet.com/philip_kennedy1/b5dvowy1okuu/wish/155222426 Year 1:
    • Start to measure grass
    • Start to use PastureBase
    • Join local discussion group in Nenagh
    • Continue the pattern of reseeding
    Year 2:
    • Analyse what seed mix best suits the farm
    • Apply Nitrogen earlier as demand for grass will be higher due to S.R. increase
    • Continue to reseed
    ]]>     2017-02-21 17:07:28 UTC https://padlet.com/philip_kennedy1/b5dvowy1okuu/wish/155222426     5 YEAR PLAN CONTD. philip_kennedy1 https://padlet.com/philip_kennedy1/b5dvowy1okuu/wish/155229130 Year 3:
    • Whole farm soil test
    • Achieve higher kgDM/ha per grazing
    • Follow cows with fertiliser after grazing (very poor at doing so the moment)
    • Continue to reseed
    Year 4:
    • Look at possibility of Zero-Grazing all of land
    • Identify cost/litre of milk for both grazing and zero-grazing on the farm
    • Continue reseeding
    Year 5
    • Seek advice on contract rearing heifers to expand the herd
    • Reseed if necessary (soil test to be sure and analyse yields of paddocks for the last 4 years)
    ]]>     2017-02-21 17:24:20 UTC https://padlet.com/philip_kennedy1/b5dvowy1okuu/wish/155229130     Current Grassland Management philip_kennedy1 https://padlet.com/philip_kennedy1/b5dvowy1okuu/wish/155234825
  • Rotational grazing in newly laid out paddocks
  • New roadway down through farm with a smooth surface
  • Entry into paddocks can be done at any point along the roadway as it is all temporary wire on permanent stakes. This reduces poaching
  • Temporary wire between paddocks allowing access to water troughs from all sides
  • On-off grazing in spring to reduce feed costs and poaching
  • Early application of slurry when the ground conditions permitted 
  • Zero-grazed from outside farm when grass became tight last summer
  • Takes paddocks out for bales if necessary in the Summer
  • Soil tested part of the farm
  • Reseeded 16ha over the last 4 years, none in 10 years before that
  • Spread lime on reseeded areas
  • Tidied up all the boundary ditches and re-fenced them (adding approximately 1-2m on each ditch)

    • ]]>     2017-02-21 17:39:26 UTC https://padlet.com/philip_kennedy1/b5dvowy1okuu/wish/155234825     philip_kennedy1 https://padlet.com/philip_kennedy1/b5dvowy1okuu/wish/155247960 2017-02-21 18:13:58 UTC https://padlet.com/philip_kennedy1/b5dvowy1okuu/wish/155247960