https://padlet.com/grainne_horan/p2dfl2ii4ww1 To develop a plan for future Grassland Management improvements for my own beef farm in Mayo. en-us 2018-01-27 14:05:25 UTC 2025-09-03 11:56:23 UTC hello@padlet.com grainne_horan https://padlet.com/grainne_horan/p2dfl2ii4ww1/wish/225724473 2018-01-29 16:47:27 UTC https://padlet.com/grainne_horan/p2dfl2ii4ww1/wish/225724473 grainne_horan https://padlet.com/grainne_horan/p2dfl2ii4ww1/wish/225725254
Suckler to Finish 
Pedigree Angus Farm
Pedigree Bulls Out wintered

Purchase weanlings and dry cows each year from Clare Island off the coast of Mayo

60:40 Dry Land 

77 ha - Split into 2 main blocks 
Cattle 0-1 40
            1-2 35
            2+  50

Stock Bulls - 2 

Calving all Year Round

Currently no Grass measuring on the farm

]]> 2018-01-29 16:48:58 UTC https://padlet.com/grainne_horan/p2dfl2ii4ww1/wish/225725254 grainne_horan https://padlet.com/grainne_horan/p2dfl2ii4ww1/wish/225731484 Cow type chosen to suit the land and system - AA purebred and cross

Soil testing - last soil test 2015 

Reseeding Programme- 10 ha /yr

KT member 

Willingness to learn and progress member of Beef Genomics Scheme

Roadway Infrastructure already in some fields for future paddock divisions 

Mostly dry ground

]]> 2018-01-29 17:00:28 UTC https://padlet.com/grainne_horan/p2dfl2ii4ww1/wish/225731484 grainne_horan https://padlet.com/grainne_horan/p2dfl2ii4ww1/wish/225731689 Price taker at the beef factory 

Labour availability - farmer full time, student at weekends 

Viability of Suckler Farms 

Cashflow for investment in infrastructure , reseeding 

West of Ireland - land type, extra rainfall 

Last Year 2nd Cut Silage was never made due to the weather - out wintered heifers until January , focus on Silage deadline for the future

With calving all year round - several divisions/ paddock systems are required 

Health Status of the Herd - TB, knock on consequences for selling pedigree bulls 

Not a member of grass focused Discussion Group 

Genetic focused farmer - pedigree cattle, attention needs to be given more to grassland 

]]> 2018-01-29 17:00:51 UTC https://padlet.com/grainne_horan/p2dfl2ii4ww1/wish/225731689 grainne_horan https://padlet.com/grainne_horan/p2dfl2ii4ww1/wish/225731836 Technology (DST) - Pasture Base

Incentive to join DG in the area 

Attend more grass focused farm walks

Participate in grass open evenings in the local Teagasc Office

Availability of neighbouring land - expansion

Increase SR and Utilisation 

BETTER Farms - relateable farms with beef systems 

Expansion of the dairy herd - more demand for Angus Bulls - cashflow

Ability to Sell Breeding Pedigree Bulls directly off Grass - reduce/ eliminate need for concentrates


]]> 2018-01-29 17:01:10 UTC https://padlet.com/grainne_horan/p2dfl2ii4ww1/wish/225731836 grainne_horan https://padlet.com/grainne_horan/p2dfl2ii4ww1/wish/225731890 Extreme weather - last winter excess rainfall 

Price of product - finishing section of the farm (Brexit)

Increased price of concentrate , fertiliser - main inputs on the farm 

Environmental Regulations - Carbon Navigator , GHG 

Future of CAP Budget


]]> 2018-01-29 17:01:18 UTC https://padlet.com/grainne_horan/p2dfl2ii4ww1/wish/225731890 grainne_horan https://padlet.com/grainne_horan/p2dfl2ii4ww1/wish/225732674 To grow and utilise more grass coupled with an increased stocking rate and to reduce reliance on concentrates on the finishing part of the farm. 

To start measuring and improvemanagement and utilisation of grass growth is of most importance. 

To couple the expansion of Pedigree Herd with grass system reducing the use of concentrates. ]]> 2018-01-29 17:03:00 UTC https://padlet.com/grainne_horan/p2dfl2ii4ww1/wish/225732674 grainne_horan https://padlet.com/grainne_horan/p2dfl2ii4ww1/wish/229963603 Soil Test 

Nutrient Plan 

Silage Analysis

Mapping]]> 2018-02-09 10:42:59 UTC https://padlet.com/grainne_horan/p2dfl2ii4ww1/wish/229963603 grainne_horan https://padlet.com/grainne_horan/p2dfl2ii4ww1/wish/229963903 Increase to weekly measuring

Retest Soils

Grazing Plan - 60:40 planner etc

Reseeding started on older grass paddocks]]> 2018-02-09 10:44:22 UTC https://padlet.com/grainne_horan/p2dfl2ii4ww1/wish/229963903 grainne_horan https://padlet.com/grainne_horan/p2dfl2ii4ww1/wish/229963936 Assess weed issue 

Implement Rotational Grazing

Measure once a month 

Drainage Plan

Silage Plan]]> 2018-02-09 10:44:31 UTC https://padlet.com/grainne_horan/p2dfl2ii4ww1/wish/229963936 grainne_horan https://padlet.com/grainne_horan/p2dfl2ii4ww1/wish/229964004 Using two years data assess performance of the farm to date.

Reseed problem paddocks based on data collected

Winter Feed Budget]]> 2018-02-09 10:44:49 UTC https://padlet.com/grainne_horan/p2dfl2ii4ww1/wish/229964004 grainne_horan https://padlet.com/grainne_horan/p2dfl2ii4ww1/wish/229964029 Weekly Measuring 

Implement Paddock System 

Look into Forage Brassica options - suitability

Out wintering options]]> 2018-02-09 10:44:56 UTC https://padlet.com/grainne_horan/p2dfl2ii4ww1/wish/229964029 grainne_horan https://padlet.com/grainne_horan/p2dfl2ii4ww1/wish/234135229 Grass 10 ]]> 2018-02-22 10:04:09 UTC https://padlet.com/grainne_horan/p2dfl2ii4ww1/wish/234135229 grainne_horan https://padlet.com/grainne_horan/p2dfl2ii4ww1/wish/234135608 2018-02-22 10:05:43 UTC https://padlet.com/grainne_horan/p2dfl2ii4ww1/wish/234135608 grainne_horan https://padlet.com/grainne_horan/p2dfl2ii4ww1/wish/234636395 2018-02-23 11:18:35 UTC https://padlet.com/grainne_horan/p2dfl2ii4ww1/wish/234636395 grainne_horan https://padlet.com/grainne_horan/p2dfl2ii4ww1/wish/234636662 2018-02-23 11:19:50 UTC https://padlet.com/grainne_horan/p2dfl2ii4ww1/wish/234636662 grainne_horan https://padlet.com/grainne_horan/p2dfl2ii4ww1/wish/234638959

]]> 2018-02-23 11:30:42 UTC https://padlet.com/grainne_horan/p2dfl2ii4ww1/wish/234638959 grainne_horan https://padlet.com/grainne_horan/p2dfl2ii4ww1/wish/235335324 2018-02-26 13:45:07 UTC https://padlet.com/grainne_horan/p2dfl2ii4ww1/wish/235335324