Description
- Growing monoculture swards to increase grass DM production on farm, with the added value of increasing grass quality and grazing utilisation
- Focusing on higher production and/or lower costs
- Increasing grass production on the farm
- Good grazing utilisation being achieved on paddocks
- Increasing spring grass supply
- Specialist milk production
- Average stocking rate (agriculture area) (LU/ha) 2.9
Reason for the innovation
Focusing on maximising output per hectare while minimising costs through grass utilisation
- Higher grass production being achieved on the farm
Farm description
Environment
- Soil type: Clayey-loam
- Climate type: Temperate Oceanic
- Agricultural area: 80ha
- Altitude: Variation across the farm
- Slope: Variation across the farm
- Permanent grassland area (ha): 80
- Average stocking rate (agriculture area) (LU/ha UAA): 2.9
- Average stocking rate (grassland area) (LU/ha): 2.9
Grassland management
- Grazing: Yes
- Grazing management type: Rotational grazing
Structure
- Breed type 1: Fr
- Breed type 2: Fr*Je
- Milk production per head (l/year/dairy animal): 5500
- Grassland exclusively grazed area (% total grassland area): All
- Grassland management type: Rotational
- Length of grazing period (month/year): 9.5
- Fertilization rate (kg N/ha): 230
- Annual Work Unit: 2.25
Why it is working
- Increasing grass production of on the farm
- Higher grass production
- Good grazing utilisation on paddock
- Economic results
- Require measurement to establish that the innovation is working
- Increasing spring grass supply
- Pasturebase Ireland