One of the first tasks undertaken when setting up the farm was to improve the grazing infrastructure. There were three components to this:
Erecting paddocks to implement a rotational grazing system.Installing water troughs at strategic locations to allow temporary subdivision of paddocks.Developing a new farm roadway in the main grazing block.A high percentage of the Newford block requiring fencing received tantalised posts and one strand of high-tensile electric wire, while two strands were erected in key areas for animal handling such as roadways or between certain paddocks to prevent calves passing under the wire. The single-strand electric fence cost €0.80/m including VAT erected, while the double-strand cost €1.00/m including VAT.
Where the flow of water was inadequate or there was no piping to the centre of fields, new 32mm (1in) piping was laid at a cost of €1.90/m.
Permanent divisions
Two water troughs were used depending on the likely demand, with 240-gallon concrete troughs costing €240 each including VAT, while the 140-gallon concrete troughs cost €140 each including VAT.
These were all installed at the centre of paddocks, with one trough servicing two permanent divisions.
In the region of €25,000 was invested in water and paddock fencing, but the payback in terms of growing and utilising more grass will quickly offset these costs.
The farm now has 32 permanent divisions and with the location of water troughs and adjacent timber posts, it can be rapidly subdivided to over 72 grazing divisions with the use of temporary posts and polywire.
Click here to see a detailed map of the farm's paddocks
Farm roadway
The farm roadway was seen as lower priority and was delayed until recent weeks. The main driver behind the new roadway was to facilitate AI in cows and to be able to manage them better during periods of inclement weather.
The roadway cost €12.50/m for excavation and stone, with the overall cost reduced slightly by using old rubble and stone present in the yard as a bottom layer.
Read more
Full coverage: Newford Suckler Demonstration herd
One of the first tasks undertaken when setting up the farm was to improve the grazing infrastructure. There were three components to this:
Erecting paddocks to implement a rotational grazing system.Installing water troughs at strategic locations to allow temporary subdivision of paddocks.Developing a new farm roadway in the main grazing block.A high percentage of the Newford block requiring fencing received tantalised posts and one strand of high-tensile electric wire, while two strands were erected in key areas for animal handling such as roadways or between certain paddocks to prevent calves passing under the wire. The single-strand electric fence cost €0.80/m including VAT erected, while the double-strand cost €1.00/m including VAT.
Where the flow of water was inadequate or there was no piping to the centre of fields, new 32mm (1in) piping was laid at a cost of €1.90/m.
Permanent divisions
Two water troughs were used depending on the likely demand, with 240-gallon concrete troughs costing €240 each including VAT, while the 140-gallon concrete troughs cost €140 each including VAT.
These were all installed at the centre of paddocks, with one trough servicing two permanent divisions.
In the region of €25,000 was invested in water and paddock fencing, but the payback in terms of growing and utilising more grass will quickly offset these costs.
The farm now has 32 permanent divisions and with the location of water troughs and adjacent timber posts, it can be rapidly subdivided to over 72 grazing divisions with the use of temporary posts and polywire.
Click here to see a detailed map of the farm's paddocks
Farm roadway
The farm roadway was seen as lower priority and was delayed until recent weeks. The main driver behind the new roadway was to facilitate AI in cows and to be able to manage them better during periods of inclement weather.
The roadway cost €12.50/m for excavation and stone, with the overall cost reduced slightly by using old rubble and stone present in the yard as a bottom layer.
Read more
Full coverage: Newford Suckler Demonstration herd
This is a subscriber-only article
SHARING OPTIONS: