Maximising Spring Grazing Increasing herbage production on Irish Dairy Farms Summary • Farms completing both profit monitor and Pasturebase Ireland in 2014 showed that increasing grass utilisation by 1t DM/ha increased net profit by €267 • Only 10% of dairy farms have optimal soil pH, P and K status; this is a major constraint to grass growth on 90% of farms
• Dairy farms will have to increase both grass production and utilisation substantially to support higher stocking rates • Grazing management factors that drive increased grass production include spring grazing management, targeting the correct midseason pre-grazing herbage mass and post-grazing sward height
Introduction Milk production in Ireland is seasonal and grass based, with calving date targeted to coincide with the start of grass growth. Feed supply in the form of grazed grass matches or exceeds the demand for spring calving dairy cows from approximately mid-April to mid-October. The availability of sufficient herbage for grazing in early spring is possible through appropriate grazing management in
• Weekly farm cover measurements combined with grazing management decisions arising from these measurements need to be adopted on all farms • National grass production data shows that high grass dry matter production can be achieved on dairy farms with good grazing and soil fertility management irrespective of location
autumn, timing and quantity of nitrogen (N) fertiliser application and through grass budgeting in spring. Increasing stocking rates (an additional 100,000 cows calved in spring 2016; ICBF, 2016) and compactness of calving has increased spring feed demand on dairy farms. Extra grass must be grown and utilised in this period, and ensure that supplementary feed is used in a judicious manner. 42