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The infrastructure village will be one of the first demonstrations that farmers attending BEEF 2018 will see at the site. This demonstration will look at everything farmers need to know in relation to setting up a grazing block.
Different types of roadway construction will be profiled, from the low-cost options to the more expensive options. A critical requirement of any paddock grazing system is a good water supply and farmers will be briefed on tips around setting up a good water supply including pipe size, drinker size and water flow rate required. Fencing will also be examined, from low-cost options such as plastic posts and reels to more expensive long-life posts with sheep wire.
Everything in this village will be costed so farmers can make up their own minds when it comes to what options best suits their farm.
Beef Farm Infrastructure Handbook
Teagasc will launch its new grazing infrastructure handbook at BEEF 2018. This handbook is designed to be used as a guide for beef farmers who wish to upgrade their existing farm infrastructure or invest in the establishment of a new farm enterprise.
The handbook covers important areas such as grazing infrastructure, water supply systems, land drainage design and installation and the importance of incorporating biodiversity in the farming system.
Grazing infrastructure in relation to roadways, paddock layout and water systems is important in terms of overall herd performance, as it can allow more days at grass and therefore greater profitability.
The section on land drainage design and installation highlights the importance of carrying out a site and soil test pit investigation before installing a drainage system.
Finally, biodiversity management provides both productivity benefits on farm and desirable social and environmental outcomes for the wider community.
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