If farmers can utilise 1t/ha extra of grass, it’s worth over €180 to your bottom line, Teagasc director Professor Gerry Boyle told those at Tuesday’s
Moorepark open day in Cork.“There’s a huge number of stands out here today which illustrates that the most important resource we have is grass.
If farmers can utilise 1t/ha extra of grass, it’s worth over €180 to your bottom line, Teagasc director Professor Gerry Boyle told those at Tuesday’s Moorepark open day in Cork.
“There’s a huge number of stands out here today which illustrates that the most important resource we have is grass.
“We’re utilising that grass far better than we were a few years ago but, still, the average at 7.5t [DM/ha] is not the utilisation that is going to help us withstand the competitive challenges of Brexit.
“There’s huge potential.”
GrassNet
On GrassNet, Boyle said that its aim is to illustrate to every livestock farmer, not just dairy, to capitalise on Ireland’s natural resource of grass.
“We think that there’s potential at least for utilising 10t DM/ha on research farms and on many of your farms,” he told farmers.
“That’s world-beating and what I’m really saying is that the challenge of Brexit is a challenge of being more competitive, of putting into place potential improvements on your farm.
“If there was ever a case for putting in place cost reduction measures on farm, it’s Brexit.
“If you can utilise an extra tonne of grass on your dairy farm, one extra tonne per ha, which isn’t massively challenging, that’s worth in your income, your bottom line – it’s worth over €180.”
Growing more grass is possible
Growing 30% to 40% more grass on Irish dairy farms is possible, according to Teagasc’s Michael O’Donovan.
Speaking to farmers at Moorepark, he explained that it’s all about getting the basics of grass utilisation right:
Soil fertility – the soil fertility needs to be in good shape to ensure good growth.Grazing infrastructure – this should be set up to utilise grass, not for silage. Teagasc launched a new handbook on dairy infrastructure at the event.Reseeding – perennial ryegrass and clover to fixate nitrogenHave grass-based dairy cow genetics.Furthermore, every additional 100kg DM/ha equals an additional 9kg MS/ha in springtime, Michael Egan of Teagasc added.
For optimum grass utilisation, walking the farm regularly and measuring grass regularly is key.
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