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
