Developments in Grassland 5 year grassland management plan for a beef/sheep farm in Co. Mayo by Stephen Coen https://padlet.com/scoen101/dngh0cq8mgrm Stephen Coen Padlet Beef & Sheep en-us 2018-02-16 14:05:33 UTC 2023-03-28 16:00:53 UTC hello@padlet.com Background scoen101 https://padlet.com/scoen101/dngh0cq8mgrm/wish/232327201
  • Currently large under utilisation of grass on Irish beef farms, 4.8t DM/ha, O'Donovan et al; French  2011)

    • Potential to grow 12-16 tonne DM/ha (O'Donovan et al, 2011)

    • Increase export of Irish grass fed beef to 2025 (DAFM, 2015)

    • Sheep Price Average: €4.72/kg (2012-2016)

    • Global sheep consumption low: 2017: Approx. 1.8kg per capita, 


    Beef Production System :
    Suckler to weaning 

    • 15 Spring Calving cows
    • 4 Replacement females
    • 15 calves (born December to February)
    • 1 stock bull

    Sheep Production system:
    Pedigree rams for breeding
    Crossbred lambs for slaughter

    • 40 Pedigree Texel February Lambing ewes
    • 60 Crossbred March Lambing ewes
    • 20 replacement ewe hoggets
    • 5 stock rams

    3 Grazing Platforms
    Total: 30 ha
    • 11ha: 15 cows, 15 calves, 4 replacements 1 stock bull - 1.36 LU/ha
    • 10 ha: 20 ewes, 30 lambs, 20 replacement females
    • 9 ha: 80 ewes, 120 lambs


    ]]>     2018-02-16 14:08:37 UTC https://padlet.com/scoen101/dngh0cq8mgrm/wish/232327201     Strengths scoen101 https://padlet.com/scoen101/dngh0cq8mgrm/wish/232327348
    • 2 young farmers 
    • David (27) & Stephen (22)

    • Educated : Both - Animal Science Degree & Green Cert
    • David: Teacher in Pallaskenry agricultural college, Limerick
    • Stephen: Final year UCD animal science student.
    • I.T skills 

    • Willing to progress

    • Attend/host farm walks.

    • No families currently.

    • Can use mixed grazing as an advantage.
    ]]>     2018-02-16 14:08:57 UTC https://padlet.com/scoen101/dngh0cq8mgrm/wish/232327348     Challenges scoen101 https://padlet.com/scoen101/dngh0cq8mgrm/wish/232327412
    • David: Works full time in Limerick
    • Stephen: Student in Dublin

    • Time a major challenge

    • Beef Industry struggling

    • Brexit

    • Stocking rate 

    • Don't graze too tight - Parasite control

    • Fragmented land

    • Inconsistent cash flow

    • Health: TB, Pneumonia, Schmallenberg virus can have  detrimental consequences 
    ]]>     2018-02-16 14:09:07 UTC https://padlet.com/scoen101/dngh0cq8mgrm/wish/232327412     Opportunities scoen101 https://padlet.com/scoen101/dngh0cq8mgrm/wish/232327458
  • Apply knowledge gained from university 

    • Avail of young farmer opportunities to enhance infrastructure

    • Utilize pasture base 

    • Join a grass focused discussion group
    • Finish animals off grass

    • Trial certain grazing techniques in Pallaskenry  agricultural college (David runs sheep flock)
    ]]>     2018-02-16 14:09:14 UTC https://padlet.com/scoen101/dngh0cq8mgrm/wish/232327458     Threats scoen101 https://padlet.com/scoen101/dngh0cq8mgrm/wish/232327524
  • Currently reliant on father

    • Increased subdivisions after weaning more difficult to divide paddocks - increased labor

    • Poor weather conditions

    • Future for Irish suckler production

    • GHG regulations

    • Poor Income: National Average 
    • Sheep: €15,000
    • Suckler: €15,000 
    ]]>     2018-02-16 14:09:26 UTC https://padlet.com/scoen101/dngh0cq8mgrm/wish/232327524     Objectives of Grassland Management Plan scoen101 https://padlet.com/scoen101/dngh0cq8mgrm/wish/232328083
  • Grow more grass 
  • Increase utilization
  • To increase grass grown and utilized on the whole farm, throughout the five years, to 13tDM/ha.
  • To achieve early spring growth and have adequate supplies of grass for the early lambing flock.
  • To increase the grazing season for the beef enterprise on the farm.
  • To increase the proportion of grazed grass and grass silage in the animals’ diet, therefore increasing LWG from grass increasing profitability. 


    • ]]>     2018-02-16 14:10:37 UTC https://padlet.com/scoen101/dngh0cq8mgrm/wish/232328083     Geographical Location scoen101 https://padlet.com/scoen101/dngh0cq8mgrm/wish/232350706 Lehinch, Hollymount, Co Mayo. West of Ireland]]> 2018-02-16 14:51:55 UTC https://padlet.com/scoen101/dngh0cq8mgrm/wish/232350706 scoen101 https://padlet.com/scoen101/dngh0cq8mgrm/wish/233508647 2018-02-20 20:36:17 UTC https://padlet.com/scoen101/dngh0cq8mgrm/wish/233508647 5 Year Plan scoen101 https://padlet.com/scoen101/dngh0cq8mgrm/wish/235327790 Year 1: 

    • Introduce grass measurement
    • Purchase plate meter
    • Soil test. 
    • Silage testing.
    • Join a local grass focused  discussion group.
    • Upload grass measurements on to pasture base
    • Establish a top quality boundary fence to allow for ease of management and establishment of temporary fencing
    ]]>     2018-02-26 13:30:26 UTC https://padlet.com/scoen101/dngh0cq8mgrm/wish/235327790     Year 2 scoen101 https://padlet.com/scoen101/dngh0cq8mgrm/wish/235435931
  • Reseed poor producing silage ground. 
  • Reduce paddock sizes in the larger fields. 
  • Act on soil test reports.
  • Spread lime and fertilizer based on test report. 
  • Weekly farm cover walk

    • ]]>     2018-02-26 16:04:30 UTC https://padlet.com/scoen101/dngh0cq8mgrm/wish/235435931     Year 3 scoen101 https://padlet.com/scoen101/dngh0cq8mgrm/wish/235436268
  • Further reseeding based on previous measurements. 
  • Continue to act on soil tests - Monitor progress
  • Assess grass growth -Match stocking rate to deal with demand from animals and increased grass growth
  • Aim to produce 70% + DMD silage for pregnant ewes - Reduce Listeriosis risk 

    • ]]>     2018-02-26 16:04:56 UTC https://padlet.com/scoen101/dngh0cq8mgrm/wish/235436268     Year 4 scoen101 https://padlet.com/scoen101/dngh0cq8mgrm/wish/235436638
  • Introduce on/off grazing in the spring and autumn.
  • Enhance drainage system  on wet/waterlogged land to increase grazing platform.
  • Assess reseeded ground and continue with reseeding programme. 
  • Continue to create uniform paddock size with the use of temporary and permanent fencing. 
  • Possibilities to reseed using multispecies or introduce a winter forage crop for finishing lambs/over wintering ewes.  

    • ]]>     2018-02-26 16:05:23 UTC https://padlet.com/scoen101/dngh0cq8mgrm/wish/235436638     Year 5 scoen101 https://padlet.com/scoen101/dngh0cq8mgrm/wish/235437019
  • Replace temporary fencing with permanent fencing in fields that will not be used for silage. 
  • Continue to match demand and grass cover with the use of measurement and pasturebase. 
  • Monitor whats doing well and improve on it.

    • ]]>     2018-02-26 16:05:52 UTC https://padlet.com/scoen101/dngh0cq8mgrm/wish/235437019     Pasture Base Ireland scoen101 https://padlet.com/scoen101/dngh0cq8mgrm/wish/235573045 2018-02-26 19:14:09 UTC https://padlet.com/scoen101/dngh0cq8mgrm/wish/235573045