Grassland Management of John Breen's Farm by Daniel McGuire https://padlet.com/daniel_mc_guire/cu97kightmfe Developments in grassland project 2017 en-us 2017-02-21 09:15:15 UTC 2025-10-01 13:54:43 UTC hello@padlet.com Introduction daniel_mc_guire https://padlet.com/daniel_mc_guire/cu97kightmfe/wish/155088477
  • The potential to achieve high
     levels of  gain from grazed
     grass gives Irish farmers a major
    competitive advantage over many
    of their European counterparts.(Teagasc.ie) 
  •  Getting cattle out to grass early and ensuring an adequate supply of good quality leafy grass is available throughout the grazing season is key to obtaining high levels of animal performance.(Teagasc.ie
  • In this project I will focus on the grassland management  on the farm of John Breen.
  • The farm is located in East Limerick on good clay type soils.
  • It is a 20 hectare farm in permanent grassland.
  • The main enterprise is rearing bought in dairy bred calves and weanlings and selling them at 18 months as stores.
    • ]]>     2017-02-21 09:25:50 UTC https://padlet.com/daniel_mc_guire/cu97kightmfe/wish/155088477     SCOT Analysis daniel_mc_guire https://padlet.com/daniel_mc_guire/cu97kightmfe/wish/155088519  Strengths
    • Recognition of the key role of agriculture in the national and rural economy 
    • Strong support from EU/exchequer for knowledge support and a proven record in knowledge support for the sector.
    • Good winter infrastructure - slatted housing/loose sheds. 
    • Strongly branded green image of the sector with high welfare standards and disease- free status Comparative advantage in grass- based animal production systems
    Challenges
    • Small farm size and fragmentation.
    • Age structure and professional image of the sector
    • Poor profitability in beef sector.
    Opportunities
    • Improvements in grassland management and utilisation of grass.
    • Increasing management levels and increasing stocking rates.
    • Strong support from EU/exchequer e.g. export refunds, investment grants
    Threats
    • BREXIT
    • Growing competition on international markets
    • Growing regulation (and consumer demands) on food safety, environment and animal welfare
    • Pressure on margins and rationalisation of suppliers  arising from retail concentration

    ]]>     2017-02-21 09:26:05 UTC https://padlet.com/daniel_mc_guire/cu97kightmfe/wish/155088519     Objectives daniel_mc_guire https://padlet.com/daniel_mc_guire/cu97kightmfe/wish/155088572 The objective of this project is to;
    1. Look at the level of grassland managemenet currently on the farm
    2. Generate a 5 year grassland management plan that will be put in place
    ]]>     2017-02-21 09:26:23 UTC https://padlet.com/daniel_mc_guire/cu97kightmfe/wish/155088572     Current Levels of Grassland Management daniel_mc_guire https://padlet.com/daniel_mc_guire/cu97kightmfe/wish/155088637
  • Block grazing system used
  • No  regular grass measuring is carried out.
  • Regular topping occurs to control bursts of grass in the summer.
  • Fertiliser application carried out in March and then again at two different stages in the summer.
  • Soil testing is carried out every 10 years.
  • No reseeding has been carried out for the past 25 years.
  • Contractor makes all silage.
  • Strip grazing most common practice carried out.
  • Stock are turned out late in Spring and brought in late in Winter.

    • ]]>     2017-02-21 09:26:46 UTC https://padlet.com/daniel_mc_guire/cu97kightmfe/wish/155088637     5 Year Plan daniel_mc_guire https://padlet.com/daniel_mc_guire/cu97kightmfe/wish/155088736 Year 1
    Join BTAP
    Buy PastureBase Technology.
    Buy a platemeter.
    Start measuring grass.
    Gain Quality Assurance.
    Incorporate a rotational grazing system.

    Year 2
    Soil test the whole farm.
    Reseed the worst 10% of the farm.
    Include Clover mixes and lime appropriately.
    Divide the farm into paddocks.
    Move water troughs to the middle of the paddocks.
    Begin testing silage.

    Year 3
    Increase soil fertility as appropriate.
    Reseed a further 10% of the farm.
    Continue grass measuring and use of PastureBase.
    Increase stocking rates on the farm.
    Year 4
    Continue reseeding and grass measuring.
    Aim to get weanlings out to grass as early as possible.
    Aim to get bullocks to target weight before sale off grass alone.

    Year 5
    Reseed another 10% so that half the farm will now be reseeded.
    Continue grass measuring.



    ]]>     2017-02-21 09:27:27 UTC https://padlet.com/daniel_mc_guire/cu97kightmfe/wish/155088736