Grassland Management On TJ Grace's Beef Farm by Connie Grace https://padlet.com/cornelia_grace1/x3zjc8vg2nrl Objectives, SCOT analysis and 5 year grassland improvement plan en-us 2017-02-15 14:00:02 UTC 2024-07-22 04:49:26 UTC hello@padlet.com Introduction: cornelia_grace1 https://padlet.com/cornelia_grace1/x3zjc8vg2nrl/wish/154006168
  • Grass production and utilisation are key to profitability of Irish beef farms (Ref.)
  • Grass- the cheapest source of feed on a dairy farm (Ref.)
  • Focus of this project is on improved grassland management on the farm of TJ Grace.
  • Located in north Tipperary (see location below)
  • 64 ha farm all in permanent grassland
  • Suckler cows and dairy bred calf to beef system
    • ]]>     2017-02-15 14:14:53 UTC https://padlet.com/cornelia_grace1/x3zjc8vg2nrl/wish/154006168     Objectives: cornelia_grace1 https://padlet.com/cornelia_grace1/x3zjc8vg2nrl/wish/154016386
  • Display the current level of grassland management on the farm
  • Generate a 5 year grassland management improvement plan
    • ]]>     2017-02-15 14:37:27 UTC https://padlet.com/cornelia_grace1/x3zjc8vg2nrl/wish/154016386     SCOT Analysis cornelia_grace1 https://padlet.com/cornelia_grace1/x3zjc8vg2nrl/wish/154022416 2017-02-15 14:50:35 UTC https://padlet.com/cornelia_grace1/x3zjc8vg2nrl/wish/154022416 Current grassland management cornelia_grace1 https://padlet.com/cornelia_grace1/x3zjc8vg2nrl/wish/154023106
  • Rotational grazing in place
  • Using sward stick to measure pre and post grazing sward height
  • Own silage making equipment, makes bales when paddocks become too heavy
  • Early turnout of young stock
  • Slow to turnout older heavier stock
  • Makes use of early Spring N and slurry
  • Reseeded 11 ha over last 5 years, almost none prior to that
    • ]]>     2017-02-15 14:52:06 UTC https://padlet.com/cornelia_grace1/x3zjc8vg2nrl/wish/154023106     5 YEAR PLAN cornelia_grace1 https://padlet.com/cornelia_grace1/x3zjc8vg2nrl/wish/154025393 Year 1:
    • Start grass measuring
    • Buy platemeter/quadrat and shears
    • Buy PastureBase Technology
    • Join BTAP

    Year 2:
    • Utilise grassland management software to make identify poor performing paddocks
    • Reseed worst performing 
    • Incorporation of clover (see mix below)
    ]]>     2017-02-15 14:57:26 UTC https://padlet.com/cornelia_grace1/x3zjc8vg2nrl/wish/154025393     Year 3 cornelia_grace1 https://padlet.com/cornelia_grace1/x3zjc8vg2nrl/wish/154028442
  • Take soil tests at end of year 2
  • Increase soil fertility
    • Year 4
    • Continue reseeding
    • Continue improving soil fertility
    Year 5
    • Achieve more from grass, increase days at grass
    • Grow and utilize more grass
    • Start on/off grazing in Sprin

    ]]>     2017-02-15 15:04:39 UTC https://padlet.com/cornelia_grace1/x3zjc8vg2nrl/wish/154028442