Moorepark 2009

1. Moorepark 2009 The Development of Future Grazing Systems- Grassland Management and Fertilizer Use on Intensive Dairy Farms B. Horan, J. Coleman, B. McCarthy and A. Brennan Teagasc Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork.

2. Moorepark 2009 Overview • A change in systems objective… • Appropriate management practice • Performance results • Fertiliser Strategy • Conclusions to date…

3. ..but there are areas of weakness • Focused on per litre profitability • Average grass production (~12.5 to 13 t DM/ ha) • Midseason sward quality decline (requirement for topping etc.) • Nutrient inefficient (~29% use efficiency) Little scope for productive expansion post milk quotas A Change in Research Objective • Currently have a very good production system Current Target NFS* 0.15 Cost per litre excl. labour @ 30 c/l (€) 0.22 Profit per litre excl. labour @ 30 c/l (€) 0.09 0.23 Profit per ha (€) 1,030 2,500 Profit per kg milk solids (€) 1.77 2.05 *NFS, 2007

4. Moorepark 2009 Milk Price Volatility • Milk Price will fluctuate between 22 and 40 c/l in future • As a low cost producer Ireland must develop systems that will be profitable each year, can cope with milk price volatility and allow for expansion opportunities

5. Moorepark 2009 A Change in Objective… To maximise profit per hectare of farm land and expand overall system productivity for a post milk quota milk production environment by: • developing grazing techniques that maximise pasture production and feed value • increasing stocking density to maximise feed utilisation • generating a dairy herd that is both productive and highly feed efficient • employing supplementation and nutrient use practices that facilitate improved environmental consequence

6. Moorepark 2009 Appropriate Management Practice..Growing & Harvesting More Grass Irish dairy farms must deliver sufficient feed to expand herd size without increasing exposure to high cost external nutrient sources.

7. Grazing Technology – Basic Principles • Measurement and informed decision making • Extended grazing season based on feed budget (280+ days) • Good roadways / paddock access/ water infrastructure • Supplements included when grass supply is limited/ growth reduced • Excellent soil fertility • On/off grazing to avoid paddock damage and increase grazing efficiency Curtins Feed Budget

8. Moorepark 2009 Growing more Grass • Avoid poaching and topping • Maximise leaf production & minimise decay • Create a green leafy base • Increase nutrient use efficiency

9. Current Pregrazing height 8-9 cm Residual 3.5 cm Growth 16 tons /ha Moorepark 2009 Growing more grass - The LUDF Model Growth is the product of light, nutrients and management 2001 - 2005 Pregrazing height 12 – 13 cm Residual 6 cm Growth 12.5 tons /ha Avoid leaf death Create green leafy base

10. Dead Material Leaf Moorepark 2009 Increase Leaf Production • Leaf production is maximized by grazing to 3.5cm residual height Bircham and Hodgson (1983)

11. New grazing point ~ 1,200kg DM/ha Historical grazing point ~ 1,800kg DM/ha 100 Lag phase 2 of regrowth Growth = Decay Dead base Exponential growth phase Little decay/ Max PAR Living green base Herbage mass accumulation (% of maximum) 50 Lag phase 1 Re-growth from dead base 0 Moorepark 2009 Creating and Maintaining a Green leafy Based Sward

13. Grass Growth Results 2008: 15,964 kg DM/ha tons DM/ha/yr • Large paddock to paddock variation unexplained by soil fertility • Potential to grow 18 tons on older swards • Some underperforming reseeds: • - paddock size / residency time • - increased requirement for fertiliser

14. 100 80 15 ton growth curve NFS Demand Demand 2.9 cows/ha 60 kg DM/ha/day 40 20 0 11-Jul 31-Jul 01-Jun 21-Jun 02-Apr 22-Apr 19-Oct 08-Nov 28-Nov 13-Mar 20-Aug 09-Sep 29-Sep 12-May 01-Feb 21-Feb Moorepark 2009 Harvesting more Energy • Higher stocking rates and earlier calving based on feed budget

15. System Performance

16. Fertiliser Strategy • P and K requirements based on an annual soil test • N is still fundamentally a cheap supplement if use efficiently • Objectives at high SR to maximise efficiency of 250kg N/ ha • N savings based on grassland measurement and slurry use • Increase dilute slurry use in January-March • 33% of area receiving 2,500 gals./ac in January • 15% of area receiving 2,500 gals./ac in March • Mid-season fertiliser usage based on grass supply targets • Reduced to 10 units of CAN when growth allows

17. Moorepark 2009 Fertiliser Strategy *All area included until April 5th, 60% area included from April 6th to May 25th, 75% area included from May 26th to July 15th and all area subsequently

18. Nutrient Budgeting *Estimates based on available information – October 2008

19. Developments in Irish Grazing Systems • Growth potential of pastures has been underestimated – 18 tons • Stocking rates must match growth – 3.3 cows per hectare • Management practice can increase plant growth • Residual grazing height of 3.5 to 4 cm • Shorter rotations with 8 – 9 cm pre-grazing height • Increased use of dilute slurry in spring

20. Current Outcomes Curtins Performance Outcomes Future Realised Stocking Rate (LU/ha) 2.89 3.3 • Focus on informed decisions and processes. Pasture production (kg DM/ha) 16 18 Production (kg MS/ha) 1,225 1,500 Profit (€/kg MS) >2.00 >2.00 • developing grazing techniques that maximise pasture production and feed value • increasing stocking density to maximise feed utilisation • generating appropriate dairy cows • employing improved supplementation and nutrient use practices Preliminary Conclusions • Profit potential of well run pasture-based systems is high

21. Moorepark 2009 Teagasc Moorepark wish to acknowledge Dairy Levy Funding Weekly updates on Teagasc farms available at: http://www.agresearch.teagasc.ie/moorepark