Forager Magazine ROI Summer 2015

ForagerHelping dairy, beef and sheep farmers profit from forage

Summer 2015

Forager

Also in this issueof

Weed control in grassland

Profit fromDrainage

NEW POTENTIALFOR RED CLOVER

Making gains through

reseeding

In this issue ofFORAGER

We welcome feedback, suggestions forarticles and contributions.

Editor: Dr Mary McEvoyTel: 00353 (0) 504 41100Email: [email protected]

Advertising: Mary McEvoyE: [email protected]

FORAGER is available free of charge tofarmers and industry specialists. To be addedor removed from the magazine mailing listplease contact:

[email protected]

FORAGER is published periodically

FORAGERTM is a trademark of Germinal Holdings Ltd

Forage Bites

Positive outlook for beef

Drainage boosts productivity

Improving soil fertility

New opportunities for red clover

Reseeding options

Brassica boost

Keeping reseeds weed-free

Pest control in new leys

Rising milk from forage

Lower milk prices and the threat offuture price volatility will focusminds on improving productionefficiency whilst lowering the cost ofproduction. With quotas gone, thenext limiting factor to productionwill be land and labour, thereforeimproving the overall performanceof the farm will be critical tomaintain farm profits. We are acutelyaware that grass based productionsystems are the most cost efficientand maximising the quality andquantity of the forage is essential toour competitiveness.Poor drainage and waterlogging ofsoils will limit yields, reduce grazingdays and can lower the persistencyof the sown species. In this issue, Dr Pat Touhy of Teagasc examinesthe causes of poor drainage andoutlines the options available toovercome most common problems.The Teagasc Heavy Soils Dairyprogramme is aiming to improveprofitability on heavy soil farmsthrough the uptake of appropriatetechnologies. Danny Berminghamexplains how he has learnt from thisprogramme and successfullyincreased DM yield from 6tDM/hato over 10tDM/ha.Teagasc have recently highlightedthat reseeding can pay for itselfwithin two years when correctlymanaged and this highlights thevalue of renewing swards across thefarm in a planned reseedingprogramme. Identifying fields whichare underperforming and targeting

these for reseeding will result in thegreatest return on your investment.Regardless of method of reseeding,ensure you have a fine, firm seed-bed, as good soil-to-seed contact iscritical. Use adequate fertiliser andlime, and roll following sowing. It iscritical to keep your reseeds weedand pest free, so we look at the roleof post-emergence sprays inensuring investment in reseedingpays off to the full extent.

Dr Mary McEvoyEditor

From the editor4 – 5

6 – 7

8 – 9

10 – 11

12 – 13

14 – 16

17

18 – 19

20

22 – 23

Reseeding benefits go beyond increasing dry matteryield and include significant improvements in qualityand better response to nitrogen fertiliser, according toGrainne Hurley of Teagasc, who was speaking at agrassland reseeding demonstration organised byGerminal. The increased herbage quality will then lead to increasedintakes and utilisation, and as a result improved animalperformance, she added.“Livestock farmers should be aiming for dry matterproduction from grassland in the region of 14 –15tDM/ha,” she said. “This can really only be achievedby regular reseeding, as swards will deteriorate overtime, however good the management.“In addition to the increased production from reseededswards, farmers will see the D-value rise by 4-5 unitsand can expect to see a 20 -25% increase in the responseto nitrogen.”Grainne Hurley also highlighted the main areas ofmanagement to focus on in order to maximise the returnon any investment in reseeding.“Ensure soil nutrient levels are correct from the outsetand be sure to apply sufficient nitrogen,” she advised.

“It’s also important to keep on top of weeds by tacklingany potential problems early, preferably in the first six weeks.“Then, manage your early grazing to avoid poaching, asnew leys will not be as resilient as established swards.”

Catch crops were the focus on June 26 at a Germinal/Cooney Furlongevent in Wexford. The benefits and roles of catch crops were widelydiscussed and attendees also viewed a range of options in the field. Jerome Vasseur of Jouffray-Drillaud gave a very informative overviewon catch crops and their importance in improving soil structure andreducing soil erosion in arable farm systems. Following on from this Philip Reck, farm manager at Cooney Furlong, described theimprovements he has seen in the soil since introducing catch crops into their system. He also discussed the management of the crop from sowing to incorporation. Philip described the much finer till on the soil and the reducedrequirement for tilling before sowing as a result of using catch crops.The soil is also much drier following a catch crop over the winter andthey also supress weeds. He uses catch crops on the entire cereal areaand described how different options have worked for him over the years.Jim Gibbons from Germinal discussed the role of catch crops in‘greening’ and GLAS and the options available to the farmer. Germinaloffers three different catch crop mixtures, designed to help conditionthe soil, reduce nutrient leaching and supress weeds over the winter period.

4

RESEEDING OFFERS MULTIPLE GAINS

Catch crop benefits revealed

Farming can be dangerous work,particularly during the busy summertime. The vast majority of farmaccidents are potentially preventable,so as part of the SAVE LIVEScampaign the IFA has declaredTuesday 21 July 2015 National FarmSafety Awareness Day.

The aim of the day is to encouragefarm families to take time out during

the busy summerperiod to think aboutfarm safety, toidentify the risks ontheir farm and put inplace practicalmeasures to reducethe risks. Unsafe working practicesparticularly relating to tractors andfarm machinery pose the biggest riskon Irish farms with 50% of all farmdeaths in the last 10 years involving

tractors or farm machinery.

It is the responsibility of all in theagribusiness sector to do what wecan to make farms a safer place tolive and work.

FORAGER – SUMMER 2015

Digestible knowledge on all things forage

For more info call 0504 41100 or [email protected]

germinal.com

– High yielding, high energy forage crop

– High in protein

– Highly palatable with excellent utilisation

– Good regrowth potential

– Winter hardy – ideal for out wintering

Rape / Kale Hybrid

Redstart

Take a day to focus on safety

6

The beef market to date in 2015 hasshown a marked improvement on lastyear, with average weekly prices for R grade steers up 6.3% or 24 cents/kgdeadweight to the week ending 6 June2015. This is a positive development,considering that weekly cattlesupplies continued at quite highlevels during the first 4 months of theyear, before falling considerablyduring May and June. Until the end ofApril total cattle throughput at exportmeat plants was running just 2.8%behind 2014. However, since then theweekly numbers have seen asignificant dip of 9.6% below lastyear’s levels, as a result of tightersupplies of cows, heifers and youngbulls. Availability of finished animalsduring the second half of this year is expected to remain well belowlast year.

In Britain and Northern Ireland primecattle supplies have also fallen by2.2% and 3.5% respectively so far thisyear. Similar to Ireland, fewer animalsare also expected for UK beefproducers over the coming months.Although UK cattle prices in sterlingterms have been slightly lower thanlast year, the impact of currencymovements has made the marketmore favourable for Irish beef (Euro at 72p, compared to 79p last year).Figures from continental EU marketssuggest a small increase in beefproduction in 2015, with a rise of 2.4%in France and 0.7% in Spain setagainst decreases of 2.8% in Italy and 1.1% in Germany.Consumption, imports and exportsWhilst stagnation in EU beef

consumption has been a feature overrecent years, the EU Commission isnow forecasting an increase ofapproximately 1% in 2015 and for thisto be largely maintained in 2016.Irish beef exports reached 530,000tonnes last year, increasing by 13%,based mainly on a 10% increase incattle supplies and slightly heaviercarcase weights. Within this exportperformance there were some positivetrade signals. Firstly there was a smallshift, with the share of exports goingto the UK dropping by 2% to 45%.This means that while the UK is likelyto remain our main market for sometime, the industry need not be over-reliant on that market in a year ofpeak production and exports. Theproportion of exports that went tocontinental EU remained roughly at

POSITIVE OUTLOOK FOR IRISH BEEFAfter a difficult situation for Irish beef in 2014, Joe Burke of Bord Bia reports more positivesigns for the market going forward.

50%, however exports tointernational markets increased from3 to 5% despite trade with Russiabeing suspended from Augustonwards. The growth in international exportscame from Switzerland, Hong Kongand the Philippines. The trade withthe Philippines opened a promisingoutlet for manufacturing beef whichhas seen poor demand fromtraditional European markets overthe last 2 years and has impactednegatively on achieving valueacross the carcase. New developments and promotionsIn January Ireland became the firstEU exporter to gain access to theUnited States. The total US beefmarket is estimated at 11 millionmetric tonnes. Average prices therein 2014 were up 23% on the previousyear and latest beef prices up to June2015 indicate a 37% increase on lastyear’s levels. Bord Bia research of theUS market has identified a marketwith up-market consumers whowant to “taste the difference” andwill pay more for Irish beef based onquality. Bord Bia have engagedintensively with targeted potentialcustomers for the past two years andthis saw three buyer groups and fivejournalists visiting Ireland in themonth of May alone with thepurpose of sourcing and promotingpremium Irish beef. Theannouncement in February thatChina is also to lift its ban on Irishbeef again means that Ireland will bethe first EU country to be able toaccess this vast market. The prospects in these internationalmarkets give us exciting possibilitiesfor diversification leading to greaterstability. It also presents the prospectof opening niche markets for specificcuts and offal’s that are less favouredin Europe as well as higher valuemarkets for steak meat. However ourcore market will remain in the UKand Continental Europe and BordBia will once again target promotionand market development activitieson key markets that contribute tohigher value for Irish beef.

Over 80 European retailers nowstock Irish beef and Irish beef isvalued as a premium product infoodservice. The Chef’s Irish BeefClub now has over 80 chefs ofMichelin Star, or equivalentstandard, across seven countries,who endorse Irish beef. Retailpromotions will be carried out acrossthe continent from Scandinavia tothe Mediterranean and focusing ontwo key markets; Germany and theNetherlands. In the Netherlands an on-packpromotion will feature on 1 millionpacks with six leading Dutchretailers and with 1,750 participatingstores. The Masterchef cookery serieswhich showcased Irish beef in Italyin 2014 will feature Irish beef in itsrecipes in four episodes over thesummer months. Averageviewership for the shows broadcastto date has been in excess of 400,000.The German market features anonline and print media campaign,which will this year focus on Irishbeef’s sustainability messagealongside our natural, grass reared,family farm and taste propositions. OutlookProduction and consumption inEurope are finely balanced with aslight upward trend in both, whileexports outside the community are

likely to grow further this year.Globally beef exports from the USAand Australia will decline this year,although this will be partly offset byhigher export volumes from Braziland India. Internationally, growth inbeef imports is being driven byhigher expenditure across Asia, theMiddle East and Africa.Looking ahead to the coming years,production of beef cattle in Irelandlooks set to recover, particularly inview of an expanding dairy herd. For the year to date, overall calfregistrations show an increase of110,000 head. Some 95,000 of theseextra calves were from a dairybackground while 15,000 wereadditional suckler-bred stock.Meanwhile, live exports for the yearto date have been 18%, or 30,000head, below 2014 levels.While many producers fear that theincreased numbers of animals beingproduced will lead to lower pricereturns, the rising demand for highquality and sustainably producedbeef both within Europe and acrosskey international markets now leaveIreland in an improved position. The option of multiple stable marketoutlets, including a healthy liveexport trade, should ultimately help to further grow the value of Ireland's exports.

7

Joe Burke of Bord Bia

The prospects for Irish beef in many international markets give reason for optimism.

FORAGER – SUMMER 2015 FORAGER – SUMMER 2015

98

Poor drainage is restricting grasslandproductivity across large parts ofIreland, with grass yields beinglimited due to the adverse effect ofexcess water and a lack of air atrooting depth. In cases of prolongedwaterlogging, plants will eventuallydie due to a lack of oxygen in the root zone.

Furthermore waterlogged soils can beimpassable to machinery andlivestock for long periods. Thisreduces the number of grazing daysand hinders silage harvesting, thusintroducing higher costs related toimported feedstuffs.

The purpose of land drainage is toremove excess water from the soil asquickly as possible. How best toachieve this will vary with soil type,and there is a need therefore for abetter understanding of theunderlying causes of drainageproblems and of the design andimplementation of appropriate

drainage systems to resolve these problems.

Causes of poor drainage

The difficulties of drainage problemsin Ireland are largely due to ourcomplex geological and glacialhistory. In poorly drained soils therate of water infiltration at the soilsurface is regularly exceeded by therainfall rate due to:

• Low permeability in the subsoil (ora layer of the subsoil)

• High water table due to low lyingposition and poor/poorly-maintainedoutfall

• Upward movement of water fromseepage and springs

Objectives of land drainage

The objective of any form of landdrainage is to lower the water tableproviding suitable conditions forgrass growth and utilization.

A controlled water table promotesdeeper rooting which improvesproductivity and improves load-bearing capacity of the soil. When planning any drainageprogramme, the potential of the landto be drained needs to be firstassessed to determine if the costsincurred will result in an economicreturn through additional yieldand/or utilisation. Some thought isneeded in deciding the mostappropriate part of the farm to drain.From a management point of view itis better to drain that land which isnearer to the farmyard and workoutwards, however it may be morebeneficial to target areas with highpotential for improvement. This ensures a better return on the investment. Drainage investigationsWhat exactly is the problem? Howgood is the existing drainage network(if any)? Is the whole profile made up

DRAINAGE UNLOCKS POTENTIAL OFMARGINAL LANDPoor drainage is one of the most common limitations of Ireland’s ‘marginal land’, whichmakes up around half of the country’s total land area. Pat Tuohy, Owen Fenton andJames O’Loughlin of Teagasc outline a strategic approach to land drainage.

of poor soils or is the problem causedby specific layers? Is there watermovement at any depth?Knowledge of previous drainageschemes in the area, and theireffectiveness, will often provide aninsight. A number of test pits shouldbe excavated within the area to bedrained. These are dug in areas thatare representative of the area as awhole; consider digging in wet anddry areas for comparison sake. As thetest pits are dug, the faces of the pitsare observed, soil type should beestablished and the rate and depth ofwater seepage into the test pit (ifany) recorded. Visible cracking, areasof looser soil and rooting depthshould be noted as these can conveyimportant information regarding thedrainage status of the differentlayers. The depth and type of thedrain to be installed will depend onthe interpretation of thecharacteristics revealed by the test pits.Two principle types of drainagesystem are distinguished:• Groundwater drainage system: Anetwork of piped drains exploitingpermeable layers• Shallow drainage system: Wheremovement of water is impeded at all depthsGroundwater drainage systemsStrong inflow of groundwater orseepage from the faces of test pitwalls indicate that layers of highpermeability are present. Underthese circumstances the use of apiped drainage system (at the depthof inflow) is advised to capture andremove this water, therebycontrolling the water table. Shallow drainage systemsWhere a test pit shows no inflow ofgroundwater at any depth a shallowdrainage system is required. Thesesoils with very low permeabilitythroughout are more difficult todrain. Shallow drainage systems aimto improve the capacity of the soil totransmit water by fracturing and

cracking the soil. They rely on soildisruption techniques, namely moleand gravel mole drainage and sub-soiling. MaintenanceEvery drainage scheme is only asgood as its outfall. Cleaning andupgrading of open drains acting asoutfalls from land drains is animportant step in any drainagescheme. Before commencing landdrainage the proposed outfall shouldbe assessed and where necessaryupgraded. Open drains, running inthe direction of maximum slope,should be established to as great adepth as possible. Spoil from suchworks, where suitable, can be spreadover the adjoining land fillingdepressions and should not impede

surface runoff to the watercourse.Unsuitable spoil should be buriedand covered with topsoil or removedto waste ground.

When a drainage scheme has beencompleted, the layout should bedrawn and noted on a farm map.This map can then be used as a guidewhen maintaining the works, as wellas a record of the works. Land drainoutlets should be regularly cleanedand maintained especially if opendrains are cleaned/upgraded as thiswill result in blockages at the drainoutlets. The use of a concrete or un-perforated plastic pipe over the endof the drain pipe, minimum 1m inlength, will protect the outlet fromdamage and will make locating andmaintaining it easier.

Test pits excavated as part of adrainage investigation should be atleast 2.5m deep with approximatelyone required per hectare.

Mole drainage using a mole plough is typically used in shallow drainage systems.

Deep piped drains typically used as part of a groundwater drainage systemare usually installed at a depth of 1.5-2.5m and at spacings of 15–50m,depending on the slope of the land and the permeability and thickness of thedrainage layer.

FORAGER – SUMMER 2015 FORAGER – SUMMER 2015

Pat Tuohy of Teagasc

Correction of the pH, phosphate andpotash to optimum levels has thepotential to increase annual grassproduction from heavy soil land byas much as 30%. With such a closecorrelation between grass growthand overall profitability (see table 1),this means the opportunity toimprove farm performance byaddressing soil fertility is verysignificant.Improving the lime status on heavysoils has been identified as one of thekey management priorities ofparticipants in the Teagasc HeavySoils Programme. Heavy soils farmsare generally located in high rainfallareas, which have significantly higherlosses of nutrients.

The actual loss of lime in a typicalgrazing season will typically amountto between 580 and 955kg/ha/year,according to work carried out byDavid Wall, Teagasc, JohnstownCastle. The largest source of loss isthrough leaching (drainage), with this being higher on heavy soil farms. On such farms (where rainfall mayexceed 1,500mm/year) the lime

application required to maintain pH is2 tonnes/acre (5t/ha) every 5 years.Where pH is below the target of 6.3,additional lime is required as part ofan overall liming programme.

Impact of soil pH on other soilnutrients

On heavy clay soils up to 90% ofapplied phosphorus is ‘locked up’after application and is not availablefor grass growth (D. Wall, Teagasc,Johnstown Castle). This phosphorusfixation can result in a significanteconomic cost where an underlyingpH problem is not addressed. Therecommendation on such heavy claysoils is that phosphorus should beapplied in two to three splits over thegrazing season to avoid this potential‘lock up’ of nutrient, particularlywhere pH is less than 6.

A recent trial showed that anapplication of 5 tonnes/ha of groundlimestone increased the phosphorusstatus of the soil by one full indexpoint, without any application offertiliser. Where no lime was appliedan application of 80kg of chemical

phosphorus was required to achievethe same result. The release of ‘fixed’P as soil pH increases is substantial.Applying lime on heavy soilsThe recommendation on very heavyclay soils is that application should belimited to 1-2 tonnes/acre in a singleapplication with a follow up twoyears later if required. Once this levelof liming takes place the soilbiological activity increases withgreater soil aeration and availabilityof nutrients (up to 70kgN/ha releasedin the year following lime applicationon low pH soils). The overall result isgreater tillering of the grass plant,developing a denser sward and in factgreater stock holding capacity on themore dense sod over time.

Lime can be applied anytime,however on heavy soil farms there is a greater chance of suitable groundconditions from July onwards.Generally avoid applications of slurrywithin 10 days of applying lime(apply the slurry first). Once slurry isincorporated in soil there is a lowerchance of nitrogen loss to the air from

10

LIMING KEY TO FERTILITY ON HEAVY SOILSA notable decline in soil fertility across Ireland is undermining grassland productivity,according to Ger Courtney and James O’Loughlin of Teagasc. With the problem mostpronounced on heavy soil farms, the researchers explain how their organisation’s Heavy Soils Programme is providing vital direction.

One County Clare milk producer is ashining example of how the 33% ofIrish dairy farms situated on heavyland can make dramatic gains inperformance by addressing drainageand infrastructure.

Like many Irish dairy farmerssituated on heavy ground, DannyBermingham has always found it astruggle to get cows out to grass andutilising the farm effectively, but inrecent years things have changeddramatically.With a view to taking full advantageof the end in milk quota, Danny hastaken steps to get more from hisexisting land base, enabling him toboost grassland performance andgraze the 100 cow herd for longer.“I wanted to get more from the sameland with more cows, but I needed toget the land right,” Danny explains.Inability to travel on wet, heavy landis one of the main restricting factorson farms like Doonbeg. Howeverthrough his involvement in theTeagasc Heavy Soils DairyProgramme, Danny has been able toimprove drainage, grass quality andgrazing infrastructure. In line with theproject’s aims to improve theprofitability of dairy farms on heavysoils, he has subsequently been able to

access more land when the weather ispoor. Cows generally go out fromMarch to 1 November with the herdaveraging 400kg milk solids/cow andrun across a 43ha grazing platform. An additional 15ha is also rented.

Danny has taken a long termapproach, gradually investing in fielddrainage and reseeds. Through theproject he has learnt to strategicallyplace drainage systems to suitparticular field type. Drains areplaced at 15m spaces and ground ismole ploughed to carry water fromone drain to the next. Head trenchesare also cleared regularly.

“We’ve only got 4 inches of top soil so we need the water to get away asquickly as possible, rather than sitthere. The fields we’ve done haveworked really well,” he says.

Ground has also been reseeded with a mix of late heading tetraploids anddiploids which have been selectedfrom the recommended list forpalatability. Variety selection includesAberChoice, currently the highestranking diploid on the Irish PastureProfit Index, plus Tyrella (late diploid)and Kintyre (late tetraploid).

Multiple entrances have also been added to paddocks to reducepoaching. In wet conditions, a backfence will also be used to stop cowsfrom damaging fields and regrowths.On/off grazing is also viewed as anessential part to the system when it’s wet.“It’s all part of the spokes in thewheel. It’s all well and good doing thedrainage, but you need to mind it (thesoil) too. The rule of thumb for heavyland is on/off grazing and plenty ofaccess,” he says.Soil nutrient levels have also been anarea for attention. Like many heavyfarms, Doonbeg is situated in a highrainfall area, making it prone tohigher nutrient losses and low P and K. Lime loss in particular can be particularly bad on these types ofsoils, making them prone to low pH.Low pH can also lead to phosphorus‘lock up’ so tackling soil pH is vital.This is something Danny hasaddressed through spring applicationof a calcium based fertiliser used as a soil conditioner every 2-3 years at200kg/acre. A specific slow releasenitrogen fertiliser is also applied toreduce nitrogen losses through heavyrainfall. P is also targeted at fields thatneed it based on soil analysis results.This has helped start to drive soil pHup from a 5-5.5 average toward thetarget 6-6.3 on mineral soils.All of the improvements made meanyields from targeted fields haveincreased from 5-6t grass grown per hectare to 10-11t. And mostimportantly, cows can now utilise it.“The main benefit is I can get cowsout longer. The ultimate aim is toincrease stocking rates. If I reseed anddrain the whole farm, I should be ableto go from 2.5LSU/ha to 3LSU/haacross the 43ha,” says Danny.

reaction with the liming material.Similarly urea should not be appliedwithin 6 months of a limeapplication. Reseeding is anothersuitable time for application andmore lime can be applied in thatsituation because of greater soilincorporation.

How long will it take lime to work?A tonne of ground limestone contains300kg of finely ground limestonesimilar to granulated limes. The finelime works relatively quickly whilstthe remaining course particles willreact more slowly and help maintainsoil pH for a number of years.

Grass grown Net Margin(tDM/ha) €/ha

2011 10.0 14602012 6.8 9482013 8.9 13222014 11.0 1560

Source: Teagasc Heavy Soils Programme

Grass growth in relation to financial performance 2011-2014

James O’Loughlin of Teagasc

Ger Courtney ofTeagasc

Danny Bermingham. Picture coutesy of Irish Farmers Journal

FORAGER – SUMMER 2015 11FORAGER – SUMMER 2015

Table 1

Soil improvement helps boost dairy farm productivity

12 13

Typically grown as a companion cropwith perennial or hybrid ryegrass,red clover can produce high proteinsilage at yields of 10-15 tonnes of drymatter per hectare, with minimal orno nitrogen fertiliser inputs.Now, with newer varieties promisingfour to five year persistence –potentially twice the life previouslyexpected from red clover – the crop isset to offer increased appeal by beingmore compatible with standardrotations.One farmer from Shropshire in centralEngland with experience of red cloveris beef suckler producer Tom Morris,who runs a herd of 100 breeding cowsat New Earnstrey Park, Tugford, nearDitton Priors. Not only has Tom beengrowing the crop successfully forsilage for eight years, but he is one of

the first farmers to include the newlong-lasting varieties bred at IBERSAberystwyth University inhis mixtures.

“We currently grow around 59 acres,taking a first cut at the end of May, asecond cut in mid-August and someyears we also manage a third cut inearly October,” he says. “In a typicalyear, we will expect 20 – 25 bales/acrefrom two or three cuts.

“We apply a single top dressing ofphosphate and potash (0:24:24) as acompound fertiliser in the spring, butno nitrogen as the crop will fix itsown. Without red clover in the leyswe’d expect to apply around 90units/acre of nitrogen to achieve thesame yields.”Tom grows red clover as a companion

crop with hybrid ryegrass and iscurrently using the new long-lastingvariety AberClaret alongside the AberHigh Sugar Grass varieties AberEchoand AberEve.Breeding trials carried out at IBERSAberystwyth University suggest thatAberClaret has the potential to deliverhigh yields into a fifth year, totallingas much as 60 tonnes of dry matterper hectare over its lifetime. As yetTom Morris is only in his second yearwith AberClaret, but performance todate has been good.Tom’s normal policy is to sow redclover in the spring, following stubbleturnips that are used to over-wintercattle very cost effectively. Whilst thespring-sown crop will only usuallyyield a single silage cut in its firstyear, Tom says the loss of one further

NEW POTENTIAL FOR RED CLOVERGreater persistency in modern red clover varieties means this valuable source ofhomegrown protein offers more potential for livestock farmers, writes Luke James.

Timing of harvest is particularly important with red clover, with the aim being to cut when half the flowers are in bud.

cut is more than out-weighed byseveral important benefits of thissystem.“We put stubble turnips in aftercereals and 15 acres will keep around30 dry cows for most of the winter,which amounts to about half the costof keeping them indoors,” he says.“Also, the stubble turnips will cleanthe ground ahead of the red cloverand we find that by sowing in thespring we need 1kg/acre less cloverin the mixture.”Timing of harvest is important withred clover just as it is for standardgrass silage leys, with the rule ofthumb being to cut when around halfthe flowers are in bud. At NewEarnstrey Park, crops are cut with amower conditioner and left in the

swath for 48 hours before round baling.“Red clover is a delicate crop so weavoid moving the swath to minimiseany losses,” explains Tom. “As theswath is baled the crop will be dry onthe top and wetter underneath, butthis evens itself out in the bale andgives a good result. We don’t use anyadditives but do aim to wrap thebales within an hour of baling.”Analyses of the bales typically showsilage to be around 30% dry matter at16% protein and 10-11MJ/kg ME, soa quality feed for the suckler cowsand calves that are sold as stores ataround 7 months of age.The farm is primarily down to grass,with around half the grazing ground

being permanent pasture and halfimproved pasture. The reseedingpastures are mainly based on AberHigh Sugar Grass diploid perennialryegrasses with about 1kg/acre ofTimothy and 1kg/acre of whiteclover. The rotation also includesaround 30 acres of winter and springbarley that is rolled for home use.

New red clover varieties withresistance to two of the morecommon disease challenges for thecrop are being developed at IBERSAberystwyth University as part of a collaborative project withGerminal and NIAB TAG and co-funded by the TechnologyStrategy Board.

With greater persistency of red cloveras a key objective, the project isfocused in particular on resistance tothe soil borne pathogens sclerotiniaand stem nematode, with molecularbreeding techniques being employedto accelerate progress.

“Red clover is a high protein foragelegume capable of good dry matteryields (11-12tDM/ha) at up to 19%crude protein when grown in mostparts of the UK and Ireland,” saysJim Gibbons. “Susceptibility of redclover to sclerotinia and stemnematode has without doubt led to a decline in its use, depriving theindustry of a very useful homegrownprotein source.”

IBERS’ plant breeders are workingwith two parallel red cloverpopulations, one selected forsclerotinia resistance and one forstem nematode resistance. “By using molecular techniques weare able to speed up the selectionprocess and minimise the fieldevaluation necessary to identify theadvanced genetics,” adds ProfessorAthole Marshall, head of public goodplant breeding at IBERS AberystwythUniversity.“We are now on our third round of selection for stem nematoderesistance following a second roundin which the proportion of resistantplants increased from about 15% up to 40%. We are one generation behind with the sclerotinia resistantpopulation but we expect it to followa similar trend.“Resistance to the two pathogens willbe combined by back-crossing intoelite breeding material. Geneticmarkers will be used to help usfollow the pedigree of the selected

material and thus minimise issueswith in-breeding and preventselection of resistant – butagronomically inferior – material.”In recent years new varietiesexhibiting greater persistence havealready emerged from the IBERS redclover breeding programme, withAberClaret and AberChianti now onthe Recommended List for Grass andClover in England and Wales. Thesevarieties have proven ability to yieldsignificantly into their fourth andfifth harvest years compared with the two to three years duration more typical of red clover.

RED CLOVER BREEDINGFOCUSED ON PERSISTENCY

Tom Morris

Professor Athole Marshall

FORAGER – SUMMER 2015 FORAGER – SUMMER 2015

14 15

Tiller development: When the mainshoot appears above ground levelleaf formation should proceedrapidly. At the three to four leaf stage,a tiller normally develops in the axilof the first leaf. Once tilleringproceeds the grass crop has safelyestablished. The two factors thatinfluence tillering are nitrogen andlight reaching the sward base.Nitrogen fertiliser should be used atsowing and again after each grazing. The ideal time to graze is when thenewly established grass plantsurvives the “pull-test”. To test thispull the leaves of the plant with yourhand to mimic an animal grazing, ifthe leaf breaks off, the sward is readyfor a light grazing (assuming groundconditions allow), if the plant ispulled out of the ground then itneeds more time to allow the roots toanchor completely. The first grazingshould be at a cover of about 1,000kgDM/ha and should be a “light”grazing. The 2nd and 3rd grazingshould be at a cover of 1200kgDM/ha, this should help the swardtiller out and will result in a densersward establishing.Ideally, try and avoid cutting forsilage in the first year. Reseeding methodsMethod of reseeding will bedependent on soil type, amount ofunderlying stone and machineryavailability. There are essentially 2methods of reseeding – theconventional method is ploughing,and this is useful to help level out afield. The alternative method is min-till.Ploughing (conventional reseeding)

Ploughing and tilling in theconventional way is often consideredto be the most reliable method ofreseeding in that it provides the idealenvironment in which the seeds canestablish successfully. Ploughing willbury pests, thrash and native weeds.Care should be taken not to ploughtoo deep (<15cm), as this can bury thetop layer of the most fertile soil. Oncethe field is ploughed, the field can be

tilled to prepare a fine, firm and levelseedbed. One-pass machines provideexcellent seedbeds provided time istaken to ensure forward speed, PTOspeed and depth of sowing arecorrect.

• Opportunity to level uneven fields• Weed grass and thrash are buried

resulting in a cleaner seed bed• Can improve drainage (break pan near surface)• May bring up a lot of stones• Take care not to plough too deep (<15cm)• A cloddy/loose seedbed – willresult in seed being buried too deep

A newly reseeded sward can yield 3-5tDM/ha more grass per year thanold permanent pasture. Swardsdominated by perennial ryegrass aremore responsive to fertiliser, havehigher feed quality, improve yieldperformance at the shoulders of theyear, are quicker to regrow followinggrazing and ultimately can carry ahigher stocking rate. There are several methods ofreseeding grassland available, fromploughing and tilling to directseeding. Regardless of the methodused there are a number of basicprinciples which will help to ensurethe germination and establishment ofthe new sward.Germination: Adequate soil moistureis critical for the seeds to developroots and shoots. In direct drillingscenarios, seeds may be moresusceptible to drought, where there is

adequate water for germination, butinsufficient water to sustain earlyseedling growth. Rolling to create afirm seedbed will help conservemoisture in the soil.Emergence: Seeds will supplysufficient energy for the grass shootsto push through the soil and emergeabove ground. If buried too deep, theseeds will have insufficient energy toget above ground and the seedlingswill die. Ideally seeds should becovered with soil, but sown no more than 10 to 15mm deep.Root development: Seeds depend ontheir own energy reserves until theroots gain their feed supply from thesoil. Good soil-seed contact is critical.Without contact with the soil, theseedling will not survive, this is aconsideration that must be takenwhen over seeding, a thatch of grasswhich prevents the seed from making

contact with the soil will result infailure of the crop. The ideal seed bedshould be fine, firm and level. An oldsaying is that you should be able tocycle a bike across the seed-bed with ease.For root development phosphorus (P)is essential. Therefore, an adequatesupply of P must be available in thesoil for the plant at the correct pHlevel to ensure maximum availability.Ideal soil pH is 6.2 to 6.5. Nutrient requirements of P and K atestablishment are presented in Table 1.

*These rates are as a guideline only – ensureyou check them against total annual Pallowances for the farm under nitrates directive

OPTIONS FOR RESEEDINGWith the benefits of reseeding well documented, not least by Teagasc in recent years,Germinal’s Mary McEvoy reviews the alternative methods and when these best apply.

Primary cultivators can be used to prepare unploughed ground for reseeding,usually using several passes in different directions to create a seedbed.

Soil index P* K*

1 60 1102 40 753 30 504 0 30

Ploughing is a good way to bury trash ahead ofreseeding, but avoid going too deep (more than 15cm).

FORAGER – SUMMER 2015 FORAGER – SUMMER 2015

Combining the rapid growthcharacteristics of forage rape withthe winter hardiness and yieldpotential of kale, hybrid brassicascan be grown as catch crops aftercereals and achieve yields of around6tDM/ha from a single grazing.Sown earlier, they can achieve yieldsof 10tDM/ha. They can also produceregrowths for a second or even athird grazing, provided they are well managed.John and Marita Loughman, whofarm at Shandangan, Donohill, Co.Tipperary, have been making gooduse of hybrid brassicas for a numberof years. This family dairy farm runs a herd ofaround 60 spring-calving HolsteinFriesians, yielding an annual averageof around 6,000l (1,300 gallons). Theyrear all their own replacements onheavily stocked land that is partowned and part leased. As with any block calving system,herd fertility is vital and, due to goodmanagement and nutrition, isexcellent at Shandangan.

“Out of 77 cows and heifers to bebred, 71 were presented for AI withinone month,” reported John, who alsouses an Angus bull on anything notbreeding replacements. Reseeding grassland is an importantpart of maintaining forage quality andoutput, with John quick to highlightthe difference between reseeds andpermanent pasture. All grassland,including leased land, has beenreseeded over the last 10 years exceptfor one paddock which wasunsuitable. Hybrid ryegrasses arenow being used on silage ground.Hybrid brassicas are used as analternative forage, in the earlyautumn when grass growth isdeclining and also for out-wintering.He first tried the variety Redstart fiveyears ago, establishing it after triticalein late July.“We grew eight acres and it produceda good and even crop that carriedover 30 in-calf heifers and dry cowsfor around 10 weeks,” said John. “Wewere delighted with the crop yieldand feeding value and the following

year we this field back into grass.”Last year a nine acre crop of Redstart,sown at the end of July, carried over30 weanlings over the winter. Cattlereceived baled silage and someminerals but no meals were fed andthere were savings in slurry storageand spreading.“Out-wintering really stretches thesilage and minimises the need topurchase expensive dairy nuts andprotein feeds,” said John, “and myweanlings did very well on theRedstart.“We were tight on housing, so out-wintering was a real benefit. Feedingthe Redstart was a simple job; we justmoved the electric fence every dayand the weanlings are light so there is no damage to the ground.”

16 17FORAGER – SPRING 2015

BRASSICA BOOST FOR WINTER FORAGE STOCKSModern New Zealand-bred hybrid brassicas such as Redstart can be sown from late Aprilthrough to August in many parts of Ireland, providing a cost effective supply of high energygrazing in 10-12 weeks. Dermot Campion of Germinal reports on one farm taking advantage.

Minimal cultivation Many farmers for a whole range ofreasons cannot or prefer not toplough. Reseeding can be carried outby direct drilling and, provided careis taken, an excellent job can be done.The normal approach is to spray offthe existing sward. After allowingsufficient time (according to labelspecifications) the surface trashshould be mowed or grazed astightly as possible. If left to decay thetrash releases organic acids that caninhibit seed germination. Minimisingthe surface thrash and applyingapproximately 2t lime/acre beforecultivation will help neutralise thiseffect. Using shallow cultivationequipment, the seed bed is thenprepared, and the minimaldisturbance of the soil meaning themore fertile soil remains at the top. Work from Teagasc has shown little difference in the subsequentperformance of a reseed regardless of the method of reseeding used,assuming the following points are observed:Discing & one-pass:• Aim for 3 to 4 passes of the discharrow in angled directions to breakthe sod and turn enough soil to forma seedbed• Ensure the forward speed is notexcessive as it can result in rough anduneven seedbedsOne-pass• The slower the forward speed ofthe machine the better finish will beachieved• Fast moving operators will leave arough and patchy seed bedDirect-drill• This can be more difficult for theseed to establish as there is nocultivation of the soil• A ‘slit’ in the ground into which theseed is dropped will ensure moresoil/seed contact• Not suitable on hard dry ground

• Sufficient moisture is requiredafterwards to ensure the plants cansurvive once they germinate

• More prone to slug attack thereforeuse of slug pellets is advised.

A number of machines are now available for direct drilling grass seed; theold sward should be grazed or cut tightly beforehand and ground needs to bemoist for best results.

FORAGER – SUMMER 2015

Hybrid brassicas can be used to provide a useful break crop with a reseedingprogramme, providing useful additionalforage dry matter in the process.

It is important that stock strip-grazed onbrassicas should have access to baledsilage, hay or straw, which offer a goodsource of roughage. Access to water isalso essential, as is adequate provision of minerals.

If out-wintering stock it is important toselect sites that offer the stock someshelter, ideally with a run-back area. Bales should be placed in the crop during the crop establishment phase when ground conditions are suitable.

Dermot Campion

ChickweedWhere common chickweed is presentit is important to spray it before it getsestablished. In severe situationschickweed can smother out the grassseedling completely and kill off thenew grass. The open patches resultingare then an ideal environment forother perennial weeds to establish.The addition of Triad with a LegumeDB type product will help to kill thechickweed in new sown leys whereclover is being established.DocksMany fields are reseeded due to themassive infestation from perennialweeds like docks. In newly reseededfields docks can emerge from thegermination of seeds present in thesoil but can also rejuvenate from thechopped up tap roots of docks presentin the previous sward. It is thesedocks regrowing from the rootfragments that are the most difficultto control and they may need

additional treatment from systemicsprays the following year after reseeding.Research work carried out at Teagascin Kildalton in 2010 showed thatwhere these dock plants are sprayedoff with systemic weed killers thefollowing season after reseeding andbefore they manage to get a largetaproot established they generally will not come back in the grass sward, where it is managed well, even after 5 years.Many of the undersown products willeffectively control docks germinatingfrom seed. However if docks are stillpresent the following season you arebetter to switch to systemic rootkillers like DoxstarPro or PastorPro toeliminate the docks before the largetap root gets established.Timing is important to ensure goodweed controlTiming is everything in getting agood, long-term weed kill in both

silage swards and grazing pastures,adds Chris Maughan.The two golden rules of effectiveweed control are choosing the rightproduct and applying it when weedsare at the right growth stage.Weeds should be actively growingand be at the ‘rosette’ stage in order to ensure the most effective kill withtranslocated weed-killers such asDoxstarPro, PastorPro, Thistlex, and Forefront T.This means that docks should be eightto 10 inches high or across and beforea seed head begins to show. Thistlesshould have four to 10 leaves and beup to eight inches high. Nettlesshould be 6 –10 inches high, butshould not have reached theflowering stage. If these weeds havegone beyond these stages in grazing

pastures, it is best to top them andwait for two to three weeks regrowthwhen they should be at the correctstage for spraying. In silage swards, it is preferable to harvest the silageand wait to spray the aftergrass.SilageThe ideal time to spray is two to fourweeks after nitrogen is applied whenweeds should be at the correct stagefor a good kill. The key requirement isto wait for a minimum of three weeksafter the weed-killer is applied beforeharvesting the silage. This ensuresthat the chemical gets fullytranslocated down to the roots, a vitalfactor in achieving long-term control.If silage is due to be cut sooner, cutthe silage and spray the docks 3-4weeks later when they are at the rightstage. Remember the dock taproot cangrow up to a metre deep. Thisemphasises the importance of usingpowerful chemicals and giving themenough time to get right into the rootsystem. The nature of the weed

18 19

KEEPING YOUR RESEEDS WEED-FREEWhere aggressive weeds like docks, chickweed and thistles are a problem in new reseeds, it is crucially important that you control them before they become established, says Chris Maughan, technical manager with Whelehan Crop Protection.

Where docks regrow from root fragments they establish rapidly in the new ley.

problem will dictate the translocated product to be used onsilage crops. If docks are the major problem, DoxstarProshould be used. If thistles are the predominant weed, useThistlex. Where there is a combination of weeds, PastorProshould be the product of choice. It is effective againstdocks, nettles and thistles as well as other troublesomeweeds such as chickweed, dandelions and buttercups. A big advantage of all these products is that, unlikehormone-based products, they do not affect grass growth. Water volumeChris Maughan emphasises the importance of adequatewater volumes. In silage crops where weeds are likely tobe shaded by dense grass, water volumes should beincreased above the recommended minimum levels.GrazingNow that summer is here, Chris Maughan said that weed-infested grazing swards will be approaching the stagewhere a targeted spray programme will still paydividends. He said the same rules about the correct growth stage of the weeds apply for grazing as for silage.The choice of chemical will again depend on thepredominance of the weed population.Forefront T, the specialist weed-killer for grazing hasbecome the product of choice for a growing number offarmers. It contains the most advanced chemistry in weedcontrol technology and is a highly effective all-purposeweed killer. As well as controlling docks, nettles andthistles, it also kills other weeds such as buttercups and dandelions.

Reseedingin 2015?

For more infocall 0504 41100 or [email protected]

germinal.com

Big DifferenceBig Performance

Use the top varieties on the new Teagasc Pasture Profit Index list –

AberGainDunluceAberChoiceAberMagicKintyre

Two-thirds of new leys are seriously infested withchickweed. It is the most aggressive of the annual weedsand can absorb as much ground cover as docks orthistles and can cut grass yields in half.

FORAGER – SUMMER 2015 FORAGER – SUMMER 2015

20

Two of the most damaging pests ofnew leys are the frit fly and theleatherjacket. These can be tackledprior to drilling, by applying apesticide at the time the old sward isburned off and before any cultivationstake place. Alternatively, they can becontrolled post-drilling, once anassessment has been made of the risk.Frit flyThe frit fly produces three generationsin a year; it is the third generation thatleads to most damage in new leys.Autumn grass reseeds are most at riskfrom frit fly damage as the emergence

of the new sward coincides with thefeeding of the newly emerged larvae.Grass reseeds can be totallydestroyed, but a more common resultis a patchy, poorly established sward.Often this is blamed on seed or poorseedbed preparation but in manycases it results from the feeding of thenewly emerged frit fly larvae. Thislittle maggot burrows into the base ofthe newly emerging grasses and cutsoff the growing point resulting in asymptom called ‘dead heart’.The damaging effects of frit fly can besignificantly reduced by eliminatingthe egg-laying adults. This can beeffectively achieved by applying the

pesticide Dursban 4 onto oldpasture before ploughing.

Alternatively, the pesticide canbe applied to the newlyemerging grass ley. Dursban4 will kill the adult frit fly,larvae and eggs as well asproviding systemicprotection to new grass.Leatherjacket

The leatherjacket is the larvae ofthe crane fly (daddy-long-legs).

Damage caused by leatherjackets in

new sown leys is typically seen ascomplete bare patches, or as missingrows. Crows feeding off the larvae inthe autumn can be a tell-tale sign ofthe presence of leatherjackets, as wellas the damaged sward.The leatherjacket cuts the new plantoff just below the surface, resulting inthe total destruction of theseparticular seedling plants. Highpopulations tend to occur in oldergrass leys, and it is possible tomeasure populations in the soil. Thepresence of large numbers of crane flyon the wing is also a good indicator.Leatherjackets are relatively easy tocontrol. A single application similar tothe timings for frit fly will be effectivein most cases.

DON’T ALLOW PESTS TO UNDERMINE RESEED VALUEThe investment of time and money in establishing a new grass ley is considerable, and theaim is to achieve a significant uplift in sward performance. It is therefore vital to avoid the potential setbacks that can result from pest damage, advises Chris Maughan of Whelehan Crop Protection.

A patchy, poorly established sward could be the result of frit fly damage.

January

FRIT FLY lifecycle(Oscinella Frit)

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

Oct

ober

Nove

mbe

r

December

LARVAE

LARVAE

LARVAE

PUPAE

PUPAE

PUPA

E

ADULTS

ADULTS

ADULTS

3rd

Gen

erat

ion

2ndgen

1st gen

Older grass can often harbourlarge populations of leatherjackets.

FORAGER – SUMMER 2015

The frit fly larvae causes damage by burrowinginto the base of the grass seedlings.

22 23FORAGER – SUMMER 2015FORAGER – SUMMER 2015

The area around Trillick in CountyTyrone, where the Edgar familyhave farmed for four generations,does not immediately look likeprime dairying country, butappearances can be deceptive.

In the past few years, eldest son John- who farms alongside his fatherDerek and brother James at GargadisDairy – has committed to increasingoutput from their 100-cow HolsteinFriesian herd, with improvedperformance from forage at the heart of the strategy.

With progress monitored through theDepartment of Agriculture and RuralDevelopment’s (DARDNI) dairybenchmarking scheme, the farm hasrecorded an improvement in overalloutput over the past 2–3 years.

Milk from forage is the maincontributor with an increase from1,250 litres per cow in the 2012-13milk year to over 2,117 litres thefollowing year.“We expect to be up to 2,500 litres percow from forage for the 2014-15 milkyear from a total average milk yieldper cow of 8,500 litres,” says John.“We are moving in the rightdirection, through a combination ofseveral factors, and there is still roomfor improvement. Our long term aimis to have a sustainable dairyingbusiness by maximising our milkproduction from the lowest cost base that we can.”

To put the Edgar family’s progressinto context, the average milk fromforage performance across the

DARDNI benchmarking group is1,535 litres per cow. So through afocused approach and somesignificant changes in policy theyhave gone from below average towell into the top quartile in justa few years.Challenging conditionsThe home farm now extends to 53ha(130 acres), all ploughable and downto grass, with a further 12ha (30acres) of rented grassland. Soils arepredominantly heavy clay loam, withland rising to over 125m and annualrainfall around 1,000mm. The herd calves all year round andmanagement policy is geared to the challenging conditions that can prevail.“We are not aiming for a New

Benchmarking is providing strong motivation for one Northern Irish dairy farm in the questto improve production from forage, reports David James.

Zealand style system as we simplydon’t have the right type of farm forthat,” says John. “We are turningcows out earlier and extending ourgrazing season, but feeding qualitygrass silage to housed cows is alwaysgoing to be a very significant part ofour plans, particularly as we hope toincrease herd size to 150 cows.”Progress to date has come from twomain areas; the installation of out-of-parlour feeders and a reseedingpolicy that is leading to increasedyields and grass quality.“We don’t use a diet feeder, so silageis put in front of the cows in blocks,”says John. “Before we installed theout-of-parlour feeders, meal was fedin the parlour and also as a mid-dayfeed on the silage. Now we arefeeding to yield, with cows receivingtheir entire ration individuallythrough the feed stations. This hasimproved our use of concentratessignificantly and has without doubtbeen a factor in the increased milkfrom forage figures.”An increase in the rate of reseeding atGargadis has seen around 18ha (44acres) of pastures renewed since 2013,with the aim going forward being toreplace all leys every 7– 8 years inorder to maximise grassland productivity.

ReseedingMixtures are made up of Aber HighSugar Grass perennial ryegrassvarieties. The main grazing pasturesare sown primarily with intermediateand late heading diploids includingAberGreen and AberAvon, whilst thesilage ground includes a proportionof tetraploids. A compatible mediumleaf white clover, such as AberDai, isincluded in most mixtures.

“We’re selecting the best varieties foryield, D-value and persistency fromthe DARDNI recommended list,”says John. “We are definitely seeingmore spring growth, which isallowing us to turn cows out earlier,and we include white clover becausethe overall production is greater than can be achieved from ryegrass alone.”

Reseeding is generally carried out inearly autumn, with soil samplesalways taken in advance to ensuresoil nutrient status is correct.

“We generally find we need to applylime before reseeding as our soils arequite acidic,” adds John.“This isimportant as having the correct pHoptimises the uptake of phosphate inparticular. We’ll usually take a lategrazing off new reseeds in Octoberand then have sheep on tack up to the middle of January.”

Forage utilisation is an importantfocus for John, who admits grazingmanagement is one of the hardestskills to master.

Grazing“We are rotationally grazing, but thisis an area where I know we can dobetter so we are working withDARDNI to continually improve.Having better performing leys isimportant, as this is allowing us toturn cows out earlier and hopefullyhave longer grazing into theautumn,” he says.

“We are using small tactical silagecuts to keep on top of the grass atpeak growing times, and these balesare often useful for feeding whengrazing conditions are difficult, as it allows us to protect the ground at times.”

The main first silage cut of around25ha (62 acres) is typically taken atthe end of May, but again the aim isto go earlier if possible tomaximise quality.

“Silage quality is important, so weare doing all we can to ensure thehighest ME possible,” says John.“Any drop in ME will result in ushaving to feed more meal to achievethe same yields, so there are directcost savings if we can maintain thequality of our leys, cut at the righttime, and conserve the grass as well as we can.”

Rising milk from forage key to growth

- Out-of-parlour feeders

- Reseeding to improvegrazing and silage leys

- Improving grazingmanagement

- Focus on silage quality

- Slurry analysis and dribblebar application

How milk from forage has been increased

at Gargadis

David Little (right) of Germinal inspects a recentlyreseeded ley with John Edgar.

IBR VACCINATION WITHOUT

COMPLICATION

Scan to view mixing video tutorial or visit www.msd-animal-health.ie

> The ONLY Live Vaccine to reduce virus shedding and clinical signs a�er a single dose*

> Easy to follow vaccination schedule

> Bovilis® IBR Marker Live and Bovilis® BVD can now be administered in a single injection†

LiveBovilis® IBR Markervaccine range

Use Medicines Responsibly

* Initial dose in animals >