https://padlet.com/eoghanhennessy_eh/qnu4bylarrd4 Grassland management plan for a suckler and dairy calf to beef farm en-us 2018-02-20 13:06:42 UTC 2018-04-12 16:51:24 UTC hello@padlet.com eoghanhennessy_eh https://padlet.com/eoghanhennessy_eh/qnu4bylarrd4/wish/233214225 Grass utilisation on beef farms across the country very poor at just 4.8t DM/ha. (O'Donovan et a,..2011; French 2011)

The realistic figure of growing 12-16t DM/ha is achievable with improved management and soil fertility.

BETTER farms on Pasturebase grew on average 11t DM/ha. 

Teagasc has launched a multi-year campaign (four years, 2017-2020) to increase grass utilisation on Irish livestock farms (dairy, beef and sheep), with the objective of achieving:
-10t grass DM/ha/year utilised;
-10 grazing's/paddock/year.]]> 2018-02-20 12:03:06 UTC https://padlet.com/eoghanhennessy_eh/qnu4bylarrd4/wish/233214225 eoghanhennessy_eh https://padlet.com/eoghanhennessy_eh/qnu4bylarrd4/wish/233218542 Suckler to beef
Friesian bull enterprise 

65 Spring calving cows
70 Friesian bull calves bought each spring to be finished at 18 months

Cattle 0-1: 70
Cattle 1-2: 130
Cattle 2+ : 65  

AI carried out for the first 5 weeks of breeding season, 2 stock bulls let off with cows then in 2 groups.

58 hectares of land in one block.

]]> 2018-02-20 12:19:26 UTC https://padlet.com/eoghanhennessy_eh/qnu4bylarrd4/wish/233218542 eoghanhennessy_eh https://padlet.com/eoghanhennessy_eh/qnu4bylarrd4/wish/233221297 All of the ground is good, dry limestone land. 

Good potential to grow and utilise more grass.

30% of farm reseeded in the last 3 years.

Carrying out soil tests in the last number of years

Has incorporated rotational paddock grazing in the last number of years

Wants to increase stocking rate further 

Grazing block is all in one block with the farmyard in the centre.

Part of KT discussion group.]]> 2018-02-20 12:31:24 UTC https://padlet.com/eoghanhennessy_eh/qnu4bylarrd4/wish/233221297 eoghanhennessy_eh https://padlet.com/eoghanhennessy_eh/qnu4bylarrd4/wish/233224065 Future of beef on the farm as dairy conversion remains a possibility

Time a major challenge. 

labour shortage, unable to afford to employ outside labour as margins very tight. 

Health status of the herd. TB, Cryptosporidium and Blackleg all issues in the past. 

Capital available to the farmer as no off farm income. 

Farmer now in his early 60's, slowing down a bit. 

Price of beef has major implications on cash flow and investment in the farm. ]]> 2018-02-20 12:41:39 UTC https://padlet.com/eoghanhennessy_eh/qnu4bylarrd4/wish/233224065 eoghanhennessy_eh https://padlet.com/eoghanhennessy_eh/qnu4bylarrd4/wish/233226721 Start grass measuring and budgeting.

Weigh cattle more often to fully appreciate the DLWG while on grass.

Join a grass focused discussion group in Tullamore.

Contact local dairy farmers for information and ideas. 

Have the farm mapped in order to make management and decision making easier. 

Improve farm infrastructure with the addition of some roadways and update fencing.

]]> 2018-02-20 12:50:43 UTC https://padlet.com/eoghanhennessy_eh/qnu4bylarrd4/wish/233226721 eoghanhennessy_eh https://padlet.com/eoghanhennessy_eh/qnu4bylarrd4/wish/233228608 Extreme and unpredictable weather events in Ireland.

Labour is currently relying on family members.

Price of inputs such as fertiliser, concentrates and milk replacer.

The future of the Irish suckler industry lies in the balance. Will it be feasible in the future?

Emissions regulations in the future.

Price of beef in the future and its over reliance on payments. ]]> 2018-02-20 12:57:01 UTC https://padlet.com/eoghanhennessy_eh/qnu4bylarrd4/wish/233228608 eoghanhennessy_eh https://padlet.com/eoghanhennessy_eh/qnu4bylarrd4/wish/233230476 The objective of this grassland management plan for this beef farm is to increase the amount of grass grown and utilized on the farm and also further increase stocking rate while improving infrastructure and facilities.]]> 2018-02-20 13:02:27 UTC https://padlet.com/eoghanhennessy_eh/qnu4bylarrd4/wish/233230476 eoghanhennessy_eh https://padlet.com/eoghanhennessy_eh/qnu4bylarrd4/wish/233238078 What needs to be done to fulfil your objective?]]> 2018-02-20 13:22:49 UTC https://padlet.com/eoghanhennessy_eh/qnu4bylarrd4/wish/233238078 eoghanhennessy_eh https://padlet.com/eoghanhennessy_eh/qnu4bylarrd4/wish/233240294 Carry out more soil tests.
Replace some of the old paddock fencing.
Install more drinking troughs in the farm. 
Mapping and infrastructure plan.
Build up soil P and K levels.]]> 2018-02-20 13:27:56 UTC https://padlet.com/eoghanhennessy_eh/qnu4bylarrd4/wish/233240294 eoghanhennessy_eh https://padlet.com/eoghanhennessy_eh/qnu4bylarrd4/wish/233241325 Learn and start measuring grass weekly. Enter this information into PBI. 
Install roadways to paddocks to allow easier access to paddocks during the grazing season.
Aim to have 25% of the farm reseeded by year 2.]]> 2018-02-20 13:30:01 UTC https://padlet.com/eoghanhennessy_eh/qnu4bylarrd4/wish/233241325 eoghanhennessy_eh https://padlet.com/eoghanhennessy_eh/qnu4bylarrd4/wish/233242891 Continue measuring every week.
Use data collected over the last year to identify underperforming parts of the farm and try and correct them. 
Soil test to monitor progress of soil P and K levels.
Aim to have a further 12.5% of the farm reseeded this year.  ]]> 2018-02-20 13:33:18 UTC https://padlet.com/eoghanhennessy_eh/qnu4bylarrd4/wish/233242891 eoghanhennessy_eh https://padlet.com/eoghanhennessy_eh/qnu4bylarrd4/wish/233244539 Two years of data collected at this stage so more detailed information got on which to make decisions. 
Use this data to review your system and its future.  Review stocking rate and performance off grass of the cattle along with grass grown and grass utilised. 


]]> 2018-02-20 13:36:37 UTC https://padlet.com/eoghanhennessy_eh/qnu4bylarrd4/wish/233244539 eoghanhennessy_eh https://padlet.com/eoghanhennessy_eh/qnu4bylarrd4/wish/233246841 Invest in facilities and infrastructure in order to maximise your system. 
Reconsider paddock sizes and water troughs for growing numbers. 
Have a set and organised weighing schedule to keep a track on specific weight gains during grazing. 
Continue to measure and budget grass to fine tune the system.]]> 2018-02-20 13:41:22 UTC https://padlet.com/eoghanhennessy_eh/qnu4bylarrd4/wish/233246841 eoghanhennessy_eh https://padlet.com/eoghanhennessy_eh/qnu4bylarrd4/wish/233263526 2018-02-20 14:09:27 UTC https://padlet.com/eoghanhennessy_eh/qnu4bylarrd4/wish/233263526