Grassland Management 5 year plan by Shane Ó Ciaráin https://padlet.com/skierans10/cdlcy285ifh1 Shane Kierans en-us 2018-02-17 14:10:37 UTC 2025-04-24 08:22:25 UTC hello@padlet.com Background information and Introduction skierans10 https://padlet.com/skierans10/cdlcy285ifh1/wish/233016892
  • In a survey carried out by Moorepark , it was suggested that the average days at grazing on dairy farms in Ireland was 241 days.( E.Kennedy et al 1995).
  •  Irish dairy farms have the potential to grow up to 15t/ha of grass over a long grazing season. (Brereton 1995, E. Kennedy).
    • ]]>     2018-02-19 18:33:52 UTC https://padlet.com/skierans10/cdlcy285ifh1/wish/233016892     Dairy System of production on current case study farm skierans10 https://padlet.com/skierans10/cdlcy285ifh1/wish/233019204
  • 90 Holstein friesian dairy cows
  •  Replacements bought in.
  •  25 cows AI Belgium Blue and Angus. Rest run with stock bulls.
  • All spring calving
  •  3 Charloaois stock bulls
  •  47 Ha of a milking platform. Separated by a public road. Not fragmented.
  • Considered to be lying in 3 blocks
  •  Rural Monaghan
  •  Heavy soils
  • Strip grazing system.
  •  Flexible in times of tough climatic conditions.
    • ]]>     2018-02-19 18:41:47 UTC https://padlet.com/skierans10/cdlcy285ifh1/wish/233019204     Strenghts skierans10 https://padlet.com/skierans10/cdlcy285ifh1/wish/233019963
  • Low input
  •  No heifer rearing costs
  • Has knowledge and experience of the system.
  • Continuous supply of bulls and heifers that can be transferred onto the beef farm
  • Relatively young farmer (56)
  • Good help. Brother and son working on farm.
  •  Part of a KT dairy discussion group
  • New 14 unit milking parlour.
  • Experience counts when managing grass in difficult soil conditions
  • Effective use of on-off grazing system in wet periods.
  • Good calf rearing techniques at a low cost system.
  •  Excellent machinery range.
    • ]]>     2018-02-19 18:44:24 UTC https://padlet.com/skierans10/cdlcy285ifh1/wish/233019963     Challenges skierans10 https://padlet.com/skierans10/cdlcy285ifh1/wish/233020541
  • Poor soil conditions
  • Heavy soils.
  • Drainage problems
  • Climatic conditions determine the days at grass and grass growth.
  • Time a major challenge
  • Challenge in managing time between the dairy and beef enterprise
  • Calving continental calves from dairy cows
  • Volatile milk prices
  • Problems with scour on farm. Cryptosporidium. Problem with mortalarro.
  • Poor infrastructure, Roadways and calving facilities.
  • Currently growing 6-7.5t/ha approximately.
    • ]]>     2018-02-19 18:46:18 UTC https://padlet.com/skierans10/cdlcy285ifh1/wish/233020541     Opportunities skierans10 https://padlet.com/skierans10/cdlcy285ifh1/wish/233021096
  • Join a grass discussion group
  • Expansion of cows 
  • Expansion of land, nearby farms coming up for sale.
  • Can compare to Ballyhaise research farm, relatively similar soil and climatic conditions.
  • Use grass measuring in the future
  • Use PBI,grasstec and agrinet in the future
  • Use of Zero grazer in tough soil conditions.
  • Opportunity to go into breeding replacements if wanted.
    • ]]>     2018-02-19 18:48:19 UTC https://padlet.com/skierans10/cdlcy285ifh1/wish/233021096     Threats skierans10 https://padlet.com/skierans10/cdlcy285ifh1/wish/233021820
  • Climatic conditions
  • Fodder crisis
  • Labour. Rely on son at weekends and Holiday’s
  • Milk price volatility
  • CAP 2020 reform
  • Risk of slurry overload.
  • Pollution regulations regarding slurry and silage storage in wet year.
  • Brexit
    • ]]>     2018-02-19 18:50:26 UTC https://padlet.com/skierans10/cdlcy285ifh1/wish/233021820     Objectives of grassland management plan skierans10 https://padlet.com/skierans10/cdlcy285ifh1/wish/233023065
  • To be able to grow more grass through grass measuring and use of Pasture base Ireland and to have more grass in late autumn and in early spring, to reduce the chances of early housing and late turnout.
  • Be able to manage grass in poor climatic conditions e.g. on and off grazing and in times of flooding. address the soil fertility problem and the drainage problem on the farm.
  • To increase milk solids through growing top quality grass and by increasing the days at grass. 
    • ]]>     2018-02-19 18:54:12 UTC https://padlet.com/skierans10/cdlcy285ifh1/wish/233023065     Year 1 skierans10 https://padlet.com/skierans10/cdlcy285ifh1/wish/233024240
  • Soil Test and Nutrient management plan.
  • Infrastructure revaluation. E.g. Roadways and paddock entry points 
    • ]]>     2018-02-19 18:57:34 UTC https://padlet.com/skierans10/cdlcy285ifh1/wish/233024240     Year 2 skierans10 https://padlet.com/skierans10/cdlcy285ifh1/wish/233024420
  • Grass measuring and efficient use of Pasturebase and Agrinet
  • Reseeding paddocks and Liming
  • Re-evaluate location of water drinkers in paddocks.
  • Identify paddocks and field in need of drainage.
    • ]]>     2018-02-19 18:58:11 UTC https://padlet.com/skierans10/cdlcy285ifh1/wish/233024420     Year 3 skierans10 https://padlet.com/skierans10/cdlcy285ifh1/wish/233025948
  • Get more input and information from discussion group regarding grassland management 
  • Liming and management of poaching problem
  • Continue to use grass measuring more effectively
  • Soil test and monitor progress
    • ]]>     2018-02-19 19:03:19 UTC https://padlet.com/skierans10/cdlcy285ifh1/wish/233025948     Year 4 skierans10 https://padlet.com/skierans10/cdlcy285ifh1/wish/233026582
  • Data gathered and revaluated.
  • Expand based ion that current situation.
  • Re-evaluate calving pattern and 6 week in calf rate
  • Reduce the risk of poaching through drainage projects. I.E shoring and cleaning out drains.
  • Stocking rate and cow numbers and breeding policy reviewed.
    • ]]>     2018-02-19 19:05:14 UTC https://padlet.com/skierans10/cdlcy285ifh1/wish/233026582     Year 5 skierans10 https://padlet.com/skierans10/cdlcy285ifh1/wish/233026811
  • Gather information from plan
  • Invest in infrastructure
  • Continue to measure and budget
  • Alternative foragers- Maize, Brassicas etc.
    • ]]>     2018-02-19 19:05:58 UTC https://padlet.com/skierans10/cdlcy285ifh1/wish/233026811     Geographical location skierans10 https://padlet.com/skierans10/cdlcy285ifh1/wish/233027819 2018-02-19 19:08:51 UTC https://padlet.com/skierans10/cdlcy285ifh1/wish/233027819 Discussion Group skierans10 https://padlet.com/skierans10/cdlcy285ifh1/wish/233236690 2018-02-20 13:19:16 UTC https://padlet.com/skierans10/cdlcy285ifh1/wish/233236690 Pasture Base Ireland skierans10 https://padlet.com/skierans10/cdlcy285ifh1/wish/233247768 2018-02-20 13:43:07 UTC https://padlet.com/skierans10/cdlcy285ifh1/wish/233247768 5 Year Plan skierans10 https://padlet.com/skierans10/cdlcy285ifh1/wish/233250618 2018-02-20 13:47:52 UTC https://padlet.com/skierans10/cdlcy285ifh1/wish/233250618