Grassland – Part 4Grassland

Management

Good Grassland Management involves the following:

1.Finding out the amount of herbage required.

2.The application of ample fertiliser to achieve this.

3.Maximising the DMD of the sward by managing

grazing and conservation. The amount of herbage output required is calculated

by the amount / type of stock on the farm. Generally 1 livestock unit consumes 12 tonnes of

herbage dry matter per year.

The amount of fertiliser applied to grassland greatly

depends on the grazing level and the level of

establishment. Fertiliser should be applied to newly established

grassland where grazing is light, in the following

proportions: N – 48 kg / ha P – 20 kg / ha K – 38 kg / ha Intensely grazed pastures should receive additional

fertiliser as outlined by Teagasc.

Land set aside for silage or hay should also be fertilised in advance of each harvest.

Hay is only cut once over the grazing season while silage can be cut repeatedly.

The following is recommended by Teagasc:

Crop Fertilizer Application (kg / ha)

Silage1st Cut

N P K2nd Cut

N P K3rd Cut

N P K

1 Cut100 35

150- - - - - -

2 Cuts125 35

15088 9 38 - - -

3 Cut150 44

188100 18

7581 - -

Hay75 26

112- - - - - -

Good grazing management requires young leafy digestible grass to be available for grazing at all times.

An efficient system of rotational grazing allows the farmers achieve this.

There are various systems available including Paddock Grazing, Strip Grazing, Block Grazing, Set Stocking, Creep Feeding and Mixed Grazing.

Paddock Grazing Paddock grazing is the most efficient form

of rotational grazing, whereby 20 – 25 paddocks are created using electric fencing.

The paddocks are created to suit the herd, using the rule: 120 cows will graze 1 ha of young leafy grass in one day.

The herd graze one paddock per day in a rotational manner.

Nitrogen is applied to the paddocks as soon as they are removed.

By the time they return to the paddock, the grass should be at the height of its digestibility.

This system can be quite expensive but is widely used on dairy farms.

Silage fields are usually kept independent of the paddock system, as the small areas may be difficult to cut.

Calves & replacement heifers graze any replacement grass.

Paddock grazing systems are sometime called rotational grazing systems

Strip Grazing This system involves the use of a

movable electric fence, to give the stock a fresh strip of leafy grass per day.

Grass strips are fertilised in the same way as the paddock system.

A back fence should be used however, as to allow the grass recover sufficiently.

This system is cheap, but requires a lot of labour time and is therefore rarely used by itself.

Set Stocking This is simplest, cheapest but least

effective form of grazing management.

It simply involves allowing the stock free access to all areas throughout the grazing year.

This allows set – stocked areas to become patchy, with areas of highly un-productive grasses evident.

Set stocking has a number of particular advantages.

Fencing and water troughs can be kept to a minimum and the continuous general nature of the grazing encourages a close dense sward that is usually rich in clover.

Set stocking is often practices in a modified way with beef, dairy and sheep systems utilising a few large blocks of pasture on a farm ( Block Grazing).

Block Grazing This system is the most common system

used in Ireland, as it is cheap, effective and low on labour.

It involves the division of the grazing area into blocks that provide grazing for 7-8 days.

Pasture management can be improved by using strip grazing in each block.

Larger blocks can be set aside for silage once or twice a year.

This system is cheap and is suitable for dairy, beef and sheep grazing.

This system involves allowing young animals

access to the best grass by means of a fence

with a hole only large enough for a calf or

lamb. The calf or lamb can “creep” through the small

opening to the good grass but the adult cannot. This allows the young animals to get the best

grass, avoid worm infection and still allows the

animals to suckle their mother.

This basically involves allow the younger animals onto a paddock, strip or block before the adults.

This again allows the younger animals to get the best grass and avoid picking up intestinal diseases.

It involves less “set up” than creep feeding. It is common practice on dairy farms, when

replacement heifers lead the main herd.