Signpost: The results are in for Eamon and Donnchadh's 2025 silage

Eamon & Donnchadh McCarthy on their farm at Carrigeen, Youghal, Co. Waterford. Picture: Patrick Browne

We got our silage analysed and are very happy with the results for first, second, and third cut silage. All silage made on the farm in 2025 has high DMD (Dry Matter Digestibility). The first and second cuts had a DMD of 75% while the third cut had a DMD of just over 71%.

Best practice was adopted when putting in place a plan for silage making on the farm. The silage ground was grazed early in spring and then received 2,500 gallons of cattle slurry and nitrogen in the form of protected urea plus sulphur. The silage was harvested seven weeks later. For the second cut, 2,500 gallons of cattle slurry was applied per acre, plus a top-up of nitrogen in the form of protected urea to make up 80 units of nitrogen in total.