Group meeting 16 October 2010
Approximately 10 members attended the afternoon meeting at the Castlewellan Group clover monitor Farm.
The meeting was used as a review of how grazing swards and stock performed over the year, as well as looking at the success of the reseeding work.
Grass Growth on the Farm
Grazing swards have been measured over the season from April to last week.
As the farm is split into three blocks, it has been possible to compare the young swards against older swards on farm.
A rising platemeter is used to measure grass growth, with the readings used to calculate grazing days ahead on farm.
Comparison of daily growth rate on the three blocks of grazing ground
Six grazing paddocks (19 acres) at Owens ground had received 50 units N by mid April - no further N was applied, yet it still
- performed well over the season despite intensive grazing.
- The grazing ground at the home farm received slurry in May plus 60 units over the remainder of the season.
N was applied at approx. six week intervals.
A similar rate of fertiliser was applied at Finnis.
Stop 1 - Owens
Comparison of grass growth v stock demand at Owens
Cattle turned out on 9 April - 19 cows plus autumn & early spring calves, plus three heifers.
- At a stocking rate of three cows/ha - would require a typical daily requirement of 50kg DM grass/day, 12 ewes/ha would require 39kg grass DM/ha.
- The ground is now being closed in rotation for early turnout. Paddocks receive FYM as they are closed, and will get slurry early spring to build up P & K levels.
Cattle performance over the season
| DLWG From turnout(Kg/day) | DLWG From birth(Kg/day) | Turn-out weight(kg) | Mid season weight(kg) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In calf heifers | 1.1 |
0.72 |
366 |
502 |
| Store heifers | 1.04 |
0.82 |
254 |
383 |
| Autumn 2009 bulls | 1.65 |
1.3 |
173 |
376 |
| 2010 heifer calves | 1.18 |
176 |
||
| 2010 male calves | 1.15 |
222 |
- Autumn 2009 bulls are being fed meal at grass and will be housed and killed for February.
- Store heifers will be sold live.
- Cattle will be weighed again at housing.
- Silage analysis will be used again this year to compare
- feeding value and meal requirement.
Stop 2 - Field 5 - Far Hill (8.5 Acres)
- Field was sprayed with glyphosphate, aerated with shakerator, power harrowed and seeded using 2 “stitching” machines – Einbock and Guttler on the 11 May.
- pH 5.8
- P and K indices = 1
- Grass mix
- 1 kg Crusader white clover
- 2 kg Dromore (late)
- 3 kg Dunloy (late)
- 3 kg Malone (Intermediate)
- 2 kg Navan (Intermediate)
- 3 kg Portstewart (Intermediate)
- Control of thistles causing problems
The hill part of the field has a high level of thistles (40 -50% cover).
Action
- The sward has become well established, high level of tillering and clover in the sward.
- Various control techniques were discussed. There is no effective thistle spray that is clover safe.
- Regular topping at three week intervals with a drum mower will be tried to control. Possibly starting this autumn to see if the frost will kill them.
- Spot spraying and manually removing was discussed also as an option.
- Lime is applied at a rate of 2 t/acre.
Stop 3 - Savages far Field - Field 15/16 (6.9 acres)
- pH = 6
- P index = 1 K index = 0
- Field was sprayed with glyphosphate after silage, aerated and grazed bare with dry ewes.
- Lime at 2 t/acre was applied.
- Seeded using Einbock drill on 14 August.
- Grass mix was
- 1 kg Alice White clover
- 3 kg Delphin - Late ryegrass (tetraploid)
- 3 kg Foxtrot - late ryegrass (diploid)
- 3 kg Hybrid - Late ryegrass (tetraploid)
- 3 kg Lemmon red clover
- There has been a successful establishment of red clover and grass.
- Field has been grazed by lambs to encourage tillering.
Action
- Field is planned for silage next year
it will not be grazed this autumn again, but saved for an early spring grazing. - Chick weed is present, if conditions remain suitable, it will be sprayed with Alistell.
- Applying fertiliser to lift P and K is a key priority to improve soil fertility and the likelihood of a successful reseed.
- The field will be round baled and fed to finishing cattle and light stores, depending on quantity of bales.
