Grazing wet soil types – adapting strategies

Description

  • Grazing wet soil types – adapting strategies
  • Grazing monocultures on wet soils
  • Some varieties of grass performing extremely well
  • Can see advantages/disadvantages of each variety
  • Identifcation of quality grass varieties
  • Grassland quality (species composition, feeding value)
  • Moorepark reseach
  • Pasturebase Ireland

Reason for the innovation

Maximise output per hectare while minimising costs

  • Grazing monocultures on wet soils
  • Some varieties of grass performing extremely well
  • Some varieties of grass performing poorly
  • Can see advantages/disadvantages of each variety

Farm description

Environment

  • Soil type: Clayey-loam
  • Climate type: Temperate Oceanic
  • Agricultural area (ha UAA): 111
  • Average stocking rate (agriculture area) (LU/ha UAA): 2.8
  • Altitude: Variation across the farm (80m above sea level)
  • Slope: Variation across the different paddocks (25%)

Grassland management

  • Grazing: Yes
  • Grazing management type: Rotational grazing

Structure

  • Main animal type: Dairy
  • Number of animals (heads): 385
  • Total Livestock unit (LU): 285
  • Number of reproductive animals (heads): 196
  • Breed type 1: Fr*Je
  • Breed type 2: Fr

Animal performance

  • Milk production per head (l/year/dairy animal): 5500l
  • Grassland management type: Rotational
  • Length of grazing period: 285 days
  • Fertilization rate (kg N/ha): 230

Why it is working

  • Grazing monocultures on heavier soils
  • Some varieties of grass performing extremely well
  • Can see advantages/disadvantages of each variety
  • Reseed poor varieties with better quality varieties
  • Grassland quality (species composition, feeding value)
  • Moorepark reseach
  • Pasturebase Ireland

Additional information

Farming system

conventional farming

Domains of innovation

farm system, grazing management system

Main types of animal

dairy cattle

Country

Ireland

Product type

Farmer portrait

Language

English

Top
Translate »
Tweet
Share