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Title: Watch: Utilising sheep fencing to grow more grass
The grassland village at Sheep 2018 Farm to Fork outlined five key areas that farmers can focus on to improve grassland productivity, and ultimately farm profitability.
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The grassland village at Sheep 2018 Farm to Fork outlined five key areas that farmers can focus on to improve grassland productivity, and ultimately farm profitability.
Philip Creighton, Teagasc, says there is a huge opportunity on most livestock farms to get more from grazed grass.
Results from recent grassland systems research in Athenry show that every 1t of grass DM grown will support a ewe plus her lambs for a year, including winter feed. \ David Ruffles
The volume of grass grown and utilised on farms has a direct influence on potential farm profitability. Farm output can be readily increased by lifting prolificacy and stocking rate, but unless the farm is capable of growing enough grass to sustain these levels then the financial rewards will not follow.
The first village greeting visitors to Sheep 2018 Farm to Fork was the grassland village. Researcher Philip Creighton told farmers that growing as much grass as the farm is capable of growing should be the first step in any farm plan. He said the next step will be how to best utilise the grass and produce as much lamb output from it as possible, in a profitable manner.
Grass production in livestock enterprises varies greatly on Irish farms, with most capable of growing between 11t DM/ha and 15t DM/ha, but falling well below this level with average output at approximately 5.6t DM/ha. Philip told farmers “every additional 1t of grass DM/ha utilised will increase profit by €105/ha on drystock farms. Results from recent grassland systems research in Athenry show that every 1t of grass DM grown will support a ewe plus her lambs for a year, including winter feed. Data from Athenry and commercial sheep farms participating in the Teagasc BETTER sheep farm programme indicates that there is room for significant increases in the level of grass grown and utilised on Irish sheep farms".
The five point plan outlined by Philip Creighton to improve grassland productivity is as follows:
1. Soil fertility: Productive soils underpin any successful farming system. Pastures will not perform to their potential if soil fertility is not correct. The soil’s ability to provide the appropriate quantity of nutrients at the appropriate time for grass growth determines the productivity of a field, and consequently soil fertility, should be foremost in the mind of those who wish to maximise the return from grazed grass.
2. Field division/grazing groups: Rotational grazing systems offer greater flexibility in grassland management by providing increased control over sward structure, grazing severity, regrowth periods and overall pasture supply. This involves dividing the grassland area into a number of paddocks, which are then grazed, fertilised and rested in turn, and can allow greater levels of herbage utilisation be achieved.
3. Grazing management: During the main grazing season the objective is to achieve high animal performance from an all-grass diet. This is achieved by ensuring there is a high quantity of leaf in the sward. Grazing lower grass covers of 1100-1300kg DM/ha (7-8cm) will help maintain grass quality. Stronger covers of grass 10cm+ (2,000+ kg DM/ha) should not be grazed as utilisation levels will be lower, but instead should be conserved as high-quality baled silage.
4. Measurement/budgeting: With the basic building blocks of soil fertility, infrastructure and management in place, the next step to getting more from grass is to develop grass measurement and budgeting skills. Grass measurement and budgeting does not have to be complicated or expensive, as is often the perception. There are a number of methods that can be used to measure grass supply on farms. The use of sward sticks, rising plate meters and the quadrant and shears method are all common. What method you use is irrelevant, the important thing is that some form of measurement is carried out on a regular basis which can be used to aid management decisions.
5. Reseeding: Research has shown that old permanent pasture produces, on average, 3t DM/ha less than reseeded perennial ryegrass swards. Reseeding when combined with improvements in management, utilisation and, where necessary, increasing soil fertility can increase profitability by up to €300/ha per year through improved grass DM production and increased nitrogen use efficiency during the growing season. The increased profitability of the reseeded pasture would cover the reseeding cost in just over two years. This means reseeding is one of the most cost effective on-farm investments.
The volume of grass grown and utilised on farms has a direct influence on potential farm profitability. Farm output can be readily increased by lifting prolificacy and stocking rate, but unless the farm is capable of growing enough grass to sustain these levels then the financial rewards will not follow.
The first village greeting visitors to Sheep 2018 Farm to Fork was the grassland village. Researcher Philip Creighton told farmers that growing as much grass as the farm is capable of growing should be the first step in any farm plan. He said the next step will be how to best utilise the grass and produce as much lamb output from it as possible, in a profitable manner.
Grass production in livestock enterprises varies greatly on Irish farms, with most capable of growing between 11t DM/ha and 15t DM/ha, but falling well below this level with average output at approximately 5.6t DM/ha. Philip told farmers “every additional 1t of grass DM/ha utilised will increase profit by €105/ha on drystock farms. Results from recent grassland systems research in Athenry show that every 1t of grass DM grown will support a ewe plus her lambs for a year, including winter feed. Data from Athenry and commercial sheep farms participating in the Teagasc BETTER sheep farm programme indicates that there is room for significant increases in the level of grass grown and utilised on Irish sheep farms".
The five point plan outlined by Philip Creighton to improve grassland productivity is as follows:
1. Soil fertility: Productive soils underpin any successful farming system. Pastures will not perform to their potential if soil fertility is not correct. The soil’s ability to provide the appropriate quantity of nutrients at the appropriate time for grass growth determines the productivity of a field, and consequently soil fertility, should be foremost in the mind of those who wish to maximise the return from grazed grass.
2. Field division/grazing groups: Rotational grazing systems offer greater flexibility in grassland management by providing increased control over sward structure, grazing severity, regrowth periods and overall pasture supply. This involves dividing the grassland area into a number of paddocks, which are then grazed, fertilised and rested in turn, and can allow greater levels of herbage utilisation be achieved.
3. Grazing management: During the main grazing season the objective is to achieve high animal performance from an all-grass diet. This is achieved by ensuring there is a high quantity of leaf in the sward. Grazing lower grass covers of 1100-1300kg DM/ha (7-8cm) will help maintain grass quality. Stronger covers of grass 10cm+ (2,000+ kg DM/ha) should not be grazed as utilisation levels will be lower, but instead should be conserved as high-quality baled silage.
4. Measurement/budgeting: With the basic building blocks of soil fertility, infrastructure and management in place, the next step to getting more from grass is to develop grass measurement and budgeting skills. Grass measurement and budgeting does not have to be complicated or expensive, as is often the perception. There are a number of methods that can be used to measure grass supply on farms. The use of sward sticks, rising plate meters and the quadrant and shears method are all common. What method you use is irrelevant, the important thing is that some form of measurement is carried out on a regular basis which can be used to aid management decisions.
5. Reseeding: Research has shown that old permanent pasture produces, on average, 3t DM/ha less than reseeded perennial ryegrass swards. Reseeding when combined with improvements in management, utilisation and, where necessary, increasing soil fertility can increase profitability by up to €300/ha per year through improved grass DM production and increased nitrogen use efficiency during the growing season. The increased profitability of the reseeded pasture would cover the reseeding cost in just over two years. This means reseeding is one of the most cost effective on-farm investments.
After a tough spring and a list of field jobs for farmers to complete, the week ahead seems to be giving the opportunity for this work to be caught up on weather-wise.
Lambing in Tullamore farm has had plenty of ups and downs this year with adverse weather the standout challenge while abortion and the birth of weak lambs also raising concerns.
Under the CAP, landscape features are protected and that may have an impact on farm payments, archaeologist Anne Carey said, warning that farmers could be fined for not protecting monuments.
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