Managing two large low input dairy farms

Description

  • Managing two large low input dairy farms
  • Sourcing land and building grazing infrastructure, building soil fertility, managing grass on both farms and milking on both farms
  • Increasing output
  • Economic results
  • Job satisfaction for the farmer
  • Sourcing land and installing grazing infrastructure
  • Discussion groups
  • PastureBase Ireland
  • Irish Grassland Farmer of the Year 2017

Grassland Farmers of the Year 2017

Reason for the innovation

Maximise output per hectare at minimum cost

  • Sourcing land and building grazing infrastructure
  • Building soil fertility
  • Managing grass on both farms

Farm description

Environment

  • Soil type: Clay-loam
  • Climate type: Temperate climate
  • Agricultural area (ha UAA): 160
  • Permanent grassland area (ha): 160
  • Average stocking rate (agriculture area) (LU/ha UAA): 2.9
  • Altitude: Variation across the farm (300m)
  • Slope: Variation across the farm (20%)

Grassland management

  • Grazing: Yes
  • Grazing management type: Rotational grazing

Structure

  • Annual work units (AWU): 2
  • Main animal type: Dairy
  • Total Livestock unit (LU): 317
  • Breed type 1: Fr*Je
  • Breed type 2: Fr

Animal performance

  • Average stocking rate (grassland area) (LU/ha): 2.8
  • Milk production per head (l/year/dairy animal): 5200 l

Why it is working

  • Increase output
  • Economically profitable
  • Job satisfaction
  • Economic results
  • Sourcing land and installing grazing infrastructure
  • PastureBase Ireland
  • Good technical performance

Additional information

Farming system

conventional farming

Domains of innovation

farm system, forage mixture, grazing management system

Main types of animal

dairy cattle

Country

Ireland

Product type

Farmer portrait

Language

English

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Grassland Farmer of the Year 2017 Ireland

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