Moorepark 2009 Teagasc Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork. B. Horan, J. Coleman, B. McCarthy and A. Brennan The Development of Future Grazing Systems- Grassland.

Moorepark 2009

Teagasc Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork.

B. Horan, J. Coleman, B. McCarthy and A. Brennan

The Development of Future Grazing Systems-Grassland Management and Fertilizer Use on Intensive Dairy Farms

OverviewOverview• A change in systems objective…A change in systems objective…

• Appropriate management practiceAppropriate management practice

• Performance resultsPerformance results

• Fertiliser StrategyFertiliser Strategy

• Conclusions to date…Conclusions to date…

Moorepark 2009

A Change in Research A Change in Research ObjectiveObjective

1,0301,030Profit per ha (€)Profit per ha (€)

NFS*NFS*

2,5002,5000.090.09Profit per litre excl. labour @ 30 c/l (€)Profit per litre excl. labour @ 30 c/l (€) 0.230.23

Current TargetCurrent Target

*NFS, 2007

1.771.77Profit per kg milk solids (€)Profit per kg milk solids (€) 2.052.05

0.220.22Cost per litre excl. labour @ 30 c/l (€)Cost per litre excl. labour @ 30 c/l (€) 0.150.15

• Currently have a very good production system

– 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)

• ..but there are areas of weakness

Little scope for productive expansion post milk quotas

Milk Price VolatilityMilk Price Volatility• Milk Price will fluctuate between 22 and 40 c/l in futureMilk Price will fluctuate between 22 and 40 c/l in future

• As a low cost producer Ireland must develop systems As a low cost producer Ireland must develop systems

that will be profitable each year, can cope with milk that will be profitable each year, can cope with milk

price volatility and allow for expansion opportunitiesprice volatility and allow for expansion opportunities

Moorepark 2009

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Cen

t pe

r Li

tre

Milk Price

Ave. Costs

A Change in Objective…A Change in Objective…

To maximise To maximise profit per hectareprofit per hectare of farm land of farm land and expand overall system productivity for a and expand overall system productivity for a post milk quota milk production environmentpost milk quota milk production environment

by:by:

a)a) developing grazing techniques that maximise pasture production and developing grazing techniques that maximise pasture production and

feed valuefeed value

b)b) increasing stocking density to maximise feed utilisationincreasing stocking density to maximise feed utilisation

c)c) generating a dairy herd that is both productive and highly feed efficientgenerating a dairy herd that is both productive and highly feed efficient

d)d) employing supplementation and nutrient use practices that facilitate employing supplementation and nutrient use practices that facilitate

improved environmental consequenceimproved environmental consequence

Moorepark 2009

Appropriate Management Appropriate Management Practice..Practice..

Growing & Harvesting More Growing & Harvesting More GrassGrass

Moorepark 2009

Irish dairy farms must deliver sufficient feed to expand herd size without increasing exposure to high cost external nutrient sources.

Grazing Technology – Basic Principles

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

12-Jun 07-Jul 01-Aug 26-Aug 20-Sep 15-Oct 09-Nov 04-Dec 29-Dec 23-Jan 17-Feb 14-Mar 08-Apr 03-May

kg g

rass

DM

/ Liv

esto

ck U

nit

• 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

Growing more Grass

• Avoid poaching and topping

• Maximise leaf production & minimise decay

• Create a green leafy base

• Increase nutrient use efficiency

Moorepark 2009

Growing more grass - The LUDF ModelGrowth is the product of light, nutrients and management

Moorepark 2009

Residual 6 cm

Pregrazing height 12 – 13 cm

2001 - 2005

Avoid leaf death

Create green leafy base

Growth 12.5 tons /ha

Residual 3.5 cm

Pregrazing height 8-9 cm

Current

Growth 16 tons /ha

Dead Material

Leaf

Increase Leaf Production

Moorepark 2009

• Leaf production is maximized by grazing to 3.5cm residual height

Bircham and Hodgson (1983)

Her

bag

e m

ass

accu

mu

lati

on

(% o

f m

axim

um

)100

50

0

Historical grazing point ~ 1,800kg DM/ha

New grazing point

~ 1,200kg DM/ha

Exponential growth phase

Little decay/ Max PAR

Living green base

Lag phase 1

Re-growth from dead base

Lag phase 2 of regrowth

Growth = Decay

Dead base

Creating and Maintaining a Green leafy Based Sward

Moorepark 2009

Grass Growth Results

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

ton

s D

M/h

a/yr

2008: 15,964 kg DM/ha

• 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

0

20

40

60

80

100

01-

Fe

b

21-

Fe

b

13-

Ma

r

02-

Ap

r

22-

Ap

r

12-

Ma

y

01-

Jun

21-

Jun

11-

Jul

31-

Jul

20-

Au

g

09-

Se

p

29-

Se

p

19-

Oct

08-

Nov

28-

Nov

kg D

M/h

a/d

ay

Harvesting more EnergyHarvesting more Energy• Higher stocking rates and earlier calving Higher stocking rates and earlier calving

based on feed budget based on feed budget

15 ton growth curve

NFS Demand

Demand 2.9 cows/ha

Moorepark 2009

2001-052001-05 20072007 20082008

Stocking rate (LU/ha)Stocking rate (LU/ha) 2.52.5 2.652.65 2.892.89

Mean calving dateMean calving date 10/210/2 20/2 20/2 24/224/2

Pre-grazing yield (kg Pre-grazing yield (kg DM/ha)DM/ha)

2,2002,200 1,4401,440 1,3901,390

Residual grazing height Residual grazing height (cm)(cm)

6.26.2 5.15.1 3.53.5

Concentrate (kg/cow)Concentrate (kg/cow) 350350 190190 275275

Fertilizer (kg N/ha)Fertilizer (kg N/ha) 300300 305305 246246

Grass growth (t Grass growth (t DM/ha/yr)DM/ha/yr)

12.512.5 14.714.7 16.016.0

Milk Solids (kg/cow)Milk Solids (kg/cow)

(kg/ha)(kg/ha)500500

1,2501,250478478

1,2541,254420420

1,2141,214

Surplus feed (t DM/ha)Surplus feed (t DM/ha) -- 1.71.7 1.61.6

System Performance

• N is still fundamentally a cheap supplement if use N is still fundamentally a cheap supplement if use

efficientlyefficiently

– Objectives at high SR to maximise efficiency of 250kg N/ ha Objectives at high SR to maximise efficiency of 250kg N/ ha

• N savings based on grassland measurement and slurry N savings based on grassland measurement and slurry

useuse

• Increase dilute slurry use in January-MarchIncrease dilute slurry use in January-March

– 33% of area receiving 2,500 gals./ac in January33% of area receiving 2,500 gals./ac in January

– 15% of area receiving 2,500 gals./ac in March15% of area receiving 2,500 gals./ac in March

• Mid-season fertiliser usage based on grass supply Mid-season fertiliser usage based on grass supply

targetstargets

– Reduced to 10 units of CAN when growth allowsReduced to 10 units of CAN when growth allows

Fertiliser StrategyFertiliser Strategy• P and K requirements based on an annual soil testP and K requirements based on an annual soil test

MonthMonth Kg N/haKg N/ha MonthMonth Kg N/haKg N/ha

Jan/Jan/FebFeb

2121 JulyJuly 2121

MarchMarch 3636 AugustAugust 2121

AprilApril 2828 SeptembSeptemberer

3333

MayMay 4343

JuneJune 4343 TotalTotal 246246

*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

Fertiliser StrategyFertiliser Strategy

Moorepark 2009

Nutrient BudgetingNutrient Budgeting2001-2001-20052005

20082008 Future?Future?

Stocking rate (LU/ha)Stocking rate (LU/ha) 2.52.5 2.822.82 3.33.3

Grazing season (days)Grazing season (days) 275275 285285 285285

Grass (kg DM/cow)Grass (kg DM/cow) 4,0404,040 3,5003,500 3,5003,500

Concentrate (kg/cow)Concentrate (kg/cow) 350350 175175 250250

Fertilizer (kg N/ha)Fertilizer (kg N/ha) 300300 250250 250250

Milk yield (kg/cow)Milk yield (kg/cow) 6,3006,300 5,5005,500 5,5005,500

Milk Protein (g/100g)Milk Protein (g/100g) 3.553.55 3.603.60 3.603.60

Total N import (kg/ha)Total N import (kg/ha) 320320 270270 275275

Total N export (kg/ha)Total N export (kg/ha) 9494 9696 111111

Total N surplus (kg/ha)Total N surplus (kg/ha) 226226 177177 164164

N-use efficiency (%)N-use efficiency (%) 2929 3535 4141*Estimates based on available information – October 2008

Developments in Irish Grazing SystemsDevelopments in Irish Grazing Systems

– Stocking rates must match growth – 3.3 cows per Stocking rates must match growth – 3.3 cows per

hectarehectare

– Management practice can increase plant growthManagement practice can increase plant growth

• Residual grazing height of 3.5 to 4 cmResidual grazing height of 3.5 to 4 cm

• Shorter rotations with 8 – 9 cm pre-grazing heightShorter rotations with 8 – 9 cm pre-grazing height

– Increased use of dilute slurry in springIncreased use of dilute slurry in spring

– Growth potential of pastures has been Growth potential of pastures has been

underestimated – 18 tonsunderestimated – 18 tons

Preliminary ConclusionsPreliminary Conclusions

1,5001,500Production (kg MS/ha)Production (kg MS/ha) 1,2251,2251818Pasture production (kg DM/ha)Pasture production (kg DM/ha)

3.33.3Realised Stocking Rate (LU/ha)Realised Stocking Rate (LU/ha)

16162.892.89

Current FutureCurtins Performance Outcomes

Profit (€/kg MS)Profit (€/kg MS) >2.00>2.00 >2.00>2.00

– Profit potential of well run pasture-based systems is highProfit potential of well run pasture-based systems is high

– Focus on informed decisions and processes.Focus on informed decisions and processes.

a)a) developing grazing techniques that maximise pasture production and developing grazing techniques that maximise pasture production and

feed valuefeed value

b)b) increasing stocking density to maximise feed utilisationincreasing stocking density to maximise feed utilisation

c)c) generating appropriate dairy cowsgenerating appropriate dairy cows

d)d) employing improved supplementation and nutrient use practicesemploying improved supplementation and nutrient use practices

Outcomes

Moorepark 2009

Teagasc Moorepark wish to acknowledge Dairy Levy Funding

Weekly updates on Teagasc farms available at:

http://www.agresearch.teagasc.ie/moorepark