Grassland Management On Ivan Thomas's Suckler Farm by https://padlet.com/davthomas123/c5vgm1u4h991 Introduction, SCOT analysis and 5 year grassland management plan. en-us 2017-02-21 09:03:15 UTC 2026-02-04 09:53:46 UTC hello@padlet.com Objectives davthomas123 https://padlet.com/davthomas123/c5vgm1u4h991/wish/155086351
  •  Give an overview of the level of grassland management on the farm
  • Create a 5 year grassland improvement plan
  • Discuss plan to switch to robotic milking on grass based system
  • Display a SCOT analysis of the farm
    • ]]>     2017-02-21 09:10:23 UTC https://padlet.com/davthomas123/c5vgm1u4h991/wish/155086351     5 Year Plan (2017-2018) davthomas123 https://padlet.com/davthomas123/c5vgm1u4h991/wish/155087253 Year 1: 
    • Install road network
    • Start measuring grass
    • Join a dairy discussion group
    • Soil test
    • Reseed 15% of the farm
    Year 2:
    • Begin milking
    • Increase water drinker size
    • Apply lime
    • Reseed 15%
    ]]>     2017-02-21 09:17:29 UTC https://padlet.com/davthomas123/c5vgm1u4h991/wish/155087253     davthomas123 https://padlet.com/davthomas123/c5vgm1u4h991/wish/155088858 Year 3:
    • Increase water supply- Loop system
    • Add clover to sward
    • Extend roadways to furthest away paddocks
    • Reseed 15%
    Year 4:
    • Soil test
    • Reseed 15%
    • Start using pasture base
    ]]>     2017-02-21 09:28:21 UTC https://padlet.com/davthomas123/c5vgm1u4h991/wish/155088858     davthomas123 https://padlet.com/davthomas123/c5vgm1u4h991/wish/155224190 Year 5:
    • Reseed 15%
    • Increase stocking rate on milking platform to 3.2 cows/ha
    • Apply for derrogation

    ]]>     2017-02-21 17:11:59 UTC https://padlet.com/davthomas123/c5vgm1u4h991/wish/155224190     Current grassland management davthomas123 https://padlet.com/davthomas123/c5vgm1u4h991/wish/155227671
  • Rotational grazing system(3-4 days/ paddock)
  • Pre-grazing sward height measured by eye
  • Consistently reseeding 10% of the farm per year
  • Good use of early slurry application
  • All own silage equipment. 2 main cuts in pit and paddocks that are too strong for grazing are baled.
  • Early turnout of light stock
  • Cows turned out when conditions allow
    • ]]>     2017-02-21 17:20:45 UTC https://padlet.com/davthomas123/c5vgm1u4h991/wish/155227671     SCOT ANALYSIS davthomas123 https://padlet.com/davthomas123/c5vgm1u4h991/wish/155263118 2017-02-21 18:54:32 UTC https://padlet.com/davthomas123/c5vgm1u4h991/wish/155263118 Aerial shot of farm davthomas123 https://padlet.com/davthomas123/c5vgm1u4h991/wish/155268961 2017-02-21 19:10:43 UTC https://padlet.com/davthomas123/c5vgm1u4h991/wish/155268961 Introduction davthomas123 https://padlet.com/davthomas123/c5vgm1u4h991/wish/155269697
  • 61ha of grass and 8ha of tillage on the farm
  • Farm is located in Co. Offaly
  • Aim of project is to improve grassland management on the farm of Ivan Thomas
  • Growing and utilising more grass is critical to the competitiveness, profitability and sustainability of Ireland's low cost dairy, beef and sheep production. (Teagasc, 2016)
  • Suckler cows and all progeny kept to beef
  • Closed herd
    • ]]>     2017-02-21 19:12:48 UTC https://padlet.com/davthomas123/c5vgm1u4h991/wish/155269697