Series of farm walks to focus on grazing and clover management during difficult spring
Michael O’Donovan, head of grassland science in Teagasc, said that grass growth has been above normal for a number of weeks.
A series of 12 clover spring farm walks will take place on farms nationally from April 3 to April 17.
The Teagasc Grass10 walks are focusing on spring grazing and clover management during this particularly difficult spring.
Recent grazing conditions have been hugely challenging for farmers due to the wet weather.
Teagasc said that these events will allow farmers and the wider agri-industry to visit farms that have managed with grazing this spring, and discuss their plans for clover incorporation in the months ahead.
The new Grass10 chairman John MacNamara from Knockainey, Co Limerick, at the launch of the spring walks, said that "it has been a very difficult year for grazing, but whenever we have let cows to grass, the pressure has been released around the yard, and milk yield and protein percentage has increased".
"The spring walks are timely and will be a great opportunity for farmers to discuss and get guidance for the grazing challenges in the months ahead," Mr MacNamara said.
"Bear in mind we have had a very wet autumn and spring so far, so farmers probably have not seen too many grazing farms in the interim."
Michael O’Donovan, head of grassland science in Teagasc, said that grass growth has been above normal for a number of weeks.
"The pressing issue on many farms is the deficit in area grazed, so key decisions will need to be made now in trying to get the first rotation finished and swards back growing well," Mr O'Donovan said.
"Any swards grazed are recovering really well on farms."
The spring walk series starts in Teagasc Moorepark, Fermoy, Co Cork, focusing on the long-term clover study.
Grassland researcher Aine Murray who leads the study remarked that "some days we were only 1.5 to two hours at grass".
"The cows didn’t graze last Monday or Tuesday. Grazing has been interrupted all spring, but we have been trying hard to get cows to grass as often as possible and sometimes failed," Ms Murray added.
The long-term Moorepark clover trial has produced a set of results in 2023, with the grass-clover cows yielding 40kg more milk solids per cow, than their grass-only counterparts.
The challenge will be to sustain this performance in 2024 after a challenging start this spring.
John Maher, Grass10 programme leader, added that nitrogen and slurry applications have been delayed everywhere.
The spring walks take place from Wednesday, April 3, starting at Teagasc Moorepark, and will end on April 17 on the farm of Robert Lyons, Nad, Co Cork.
