OPTIMISING GRASSLAND on farm is one of the most economical means to produce milk and beef. In order to achieve high quality grass, it’s important to put a full reseeding programme in place annually that considers all the elements of reseeding. The ultimate aim is to reseed 10% of the platform annually, resulting in a completely renewed grazing platform every 10 years. Current grassland management figures highlight that every extra tonne of grass DM utilised is worth an additional €173\ha to the farm.
We’ve put together an easy guide on the quality products that we recommend for each of these 3 stages, in order to achieve “Great Grass”.
Three stages to Maximise grassland yields
Stage one:
Stage two:
Stage three:
Pre-SEEDING
RE-SeEDING
POST EMERGENCE
Using a quality chemical to burn off means total destruction of old swards, allowing maximum seed emergence in stage 2.
Selecting quality seed is crucial to maximise your grass to milk production and to capitalise on your reseeding investment in the long term.
It is recognised by Teagasc that using a quality post emergence spray to control a broad spectrum of weeds will result in enhanced grassland yields.
Stage ONE: PRE-SEEDING recomMended products
Available to purchase in branches, through your Business Manager or online at GlanbiaConnect.com
Roundup Powermax 720 10kg • • • • • •
Faster uptake in difficult conditions Less risk of drift Can plough/till after 5 days No need for additional surfactants Safe to use around Livestock Rate: 3kg/ha
Roundup Flex 480 15L • • • • • •
9082097
9071950
Kills a broad spectrum of weeds Cost effective Long lasting Fast acting Grazing: After 5 days Rate: 4.5 litres/ha
Roundup Gold 450 15L
9079671
• High concentration, non selective, Gyphosate based herbicide • Targets annual, perennial and aquatic weeds, woody plants and even • • • •
orobanchaceae species Roundup provides more cover per gallon Consistent Roundup formulation Premium surfactant formulation that allows for increased spreading Rate: 4.8 litres/ha
Soil Fertility Target turnaround time to get a reseed back into production should be 60 days. Generally, decisions around reseeding are negative due to the view that paddocks are out of production for too long. The time that the sward is out of production can be minimised by cultivating seven to 10 days after spraying off the old grass – a major failing at farm level is to wait too long after spray off. When spraying off paddocks for stitching in – let the grass cover grow to 400-500-600kg DM/ha before spraying off. This is due to avoiding old grass coming back into the sward. The paddock/field for reseeding should be sprayed off with a
high-quality glyphosate product in order to kill off any existing vegetation present. Where ploughing, without spraying off it is common for weed grasses to regrow quickly and are then very hard to control. Where minimum cultivation is being practiced the vegetation needs to be either grazed off or topped to allow a cleaner surface with little trash as possible
Stage TWO: RE-SEEDING Choosing The Correct Seed Mixture
Diploids have more tillers per plant and, due to the lower water content per cell, have a higher DM/kg of feed and more energy than tetraploid plants. Both varieties have similar protein levels.
No single grass variety has all the desired agronomic traits and a grass seed mix can address this. When it comes to selecting the correct seed mixture, the Pasture Profit Index (PPI) is essential to reference specific characteristics and values within the pasture.
Tetraploids are more palatable to livestock, leading to higher intake, and are more drought tolerant. However, their higher water content goes hand in hand with a lower DM compared to diploids.
• Diploid: Tetraploid proportion; • For grazing: 50% diploid: 50% tetraploid (reduce tetraploid % on difficult soils);
• For silage: 60% diploid: 40% tetraploid (narrow range in
On heavy soils subject to poaching, the persistence of tetraploids may suffer, while seeding rates for tetraploid grasses will need to be higher because of the larger seed size.
heading dates are advised);
• Clover inclusions should also be considered (now a requirement for derogation farms considering reseeding).
Diploids Vs. Tetraploids The main difference between diploids and tetraploids is the number of chromosomes per cell in the grass plant. Diploids have two sets of chromosomes per cell while tetraploids have four. Diploids have tended to dominate mixtures in Ireland in recent years but tetraploid varieties are a key component of modern grass seed mixtures. Because of the extra chromosomes, tetraploids have a bigger cell size and have a higher ratio of cell contents (soluble carbohydrates) to cell wall (fibre), indicating that they have a higher water content per cell.
Ideally, seed mixtures should have less than a seven days’ range in heading dates between cultivars. In a silage mix, high overall DM production and density are the key targets. Silage mixes should not be used where swards are used mainly for grazing. A small range in heading dates (e.g. seven to 10 days) is preferable to shortening the heading period. All varieties will head, however, some have a greater tendency to head and continue to re-head, which is not desirable in a grazing sward.
HEADING DATES EARLYS
Head out during the first half of May
INTERMEDIATES
Head out during the second half of May
LATES
Head out during the first half of June
Benefits of mixed grass / white clover swards Animal Sward Economics • Increased dry matter intake
• Increased dry matter production
• Increased milk solids production
• Potential to reduce nitrogen fertiliser
+ 1.5kg DM/cow/day
+ 30kg MS/cow/year
+ 800kg DM/ha
• Increase farm profit by €150/ha
with white clover contents >25%
• Dry matter intake • Feed quality • Animal performance • Total grass growth
• Nitrogen use
Stage TWO: RE-SEEDING BENEFITS OF CLOVER The inclusion of clover into perennial ryegrass pastures for high stocking rate systems of milk production has been shown to increase grass production and milk production per cow. Clover also has the ability to improve the environmental credentials of your farm by reducing costs (Lower N input), reducing nitrous oxide emissions and has the added benefit of contributing to water quality improvements. Clover fixes atmospheric nitrogen and makes it available for grass growth. Previous research has shown that clover can contribute up to 100kg N/ ha/yr through nitrogen fixation, resulting in significant savings for farmers. As of from the 1st January 2020 the new nitrates derogation rules specifies that a minimum of 1.5 kg/ha naked clover seed i.e. un-pelleted clover seed is required for all new grass reseeds, equally we should focus on the on the additional production and environmental benefits of incorporating clover into our reseeding programmes going forward.
MULTI- SPECIES SWARDS A multi-species sward has a mixture of three or more forage species present in a sward. The growth characteristics of these species will complement each other which results in increased productivity. Multi-specie mixtures are a combination of a range of diverse forage species such as plantain or chicory, all of which will have their own specific characteristics and are very beneficial for biodiversity providing a variety of flowering plants for pollinators. The swards can produce similar DM yields to perennial ryegrass swards without the same level of inorganic nitrogen fertiliser application rates.
Establishment of a white clover sward 1. HIGH FERTILE SOILS REQUIRED i. Index 3 & 4 for P and K ii. Soil pH 6.3 2. SOWING DATE i. Spring/Early Summer 3. WHEN RESEEDING i. Fine firm seed bed ii. Sowing depth of 10 – 12 mm iii. 1.2 – 3.7kg/ha (0.5 - 1.5kg/ac) iv. Soil contact – roll post sowing
4. WHEN OVER-SOWING
ii. Ensure correct timing of chemical application
i. Ensure existing sward has a high perennial ryegrass content
6. GRAZING MANAGEMENT
ii. Sow immediately after grazing or surplus silage (<4 cm)
In order to maintain a sward clover content of 25%
iii. 3.7 - 5kg/ha (1.5 – 2kg/ac) iv. Ensure soil to seed contact post sowing – roll v. Graze at <1100kg DM/ha for the following 3 rotations 5. POST EMERGENCE SPRAY
ii. Post-grazing sward height – 4 cm (50kg DM/ha) iii. Grazing rotation of 18 to 21 days mid-season iv. Early grazing in spring to stimulate plant growth
i. Ensure spray is clover safe
Fertilisation for reseeding
i. Target pre-grazing herbage yield of 1,300 – 1,600kg DM/ha
GAIN MOMENTUM PROGRAMME N RECOMMENDATIONS ABOVE 210KGS N/HA (KGS/HA)
TIMINGS
N
JAN/FEB
20
MARCH
40
APRIL
45
MAY
45
JUNE
30
• Use either Grow Lime or Granulated Lime
JULY
25
N,P,K Fertiliser
AUGUST
25
SEPTEMBER
20
pH and Lime • For good establishment of Grass seeds, pH must be above 6.3 • Always good practice to spread lime before reseeding where the pH is lower than this
• Where the pH is adequate, if there is a significant level of trash on the field, good practice to apply a level of lime here also
• Phosphate is also important for seed establishment. Best to use a fertiliser containing a significant level of N & P
• Use 30-40 units N /Ac and 20–30 Units of P /Ac. A Popular fertiliser to use is 10/20/20 ( 3 X 50Kg/Ac )
• Always make use of soil samples to plan P & K application
OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER
Stage TWO: RE-SEEDING recomMended products
NEW
BIGBAGGER
Available to purchase in branches, through your Business Manager or online at GlanbiaConnect.com • Mastercrop Premium Grazing Sward and Mastercrop One Cut & Graze NOW in a 12.5KG bag • 1Kg Clover included to comply with Derogation requirements
SUITABILITY:
PREMIUM GRAZING SWARD
Intensive, continuous grazing systems.
ABERGAIN ( T )
3.0 Kgs 4th June
DRUMBO
2.0 kgs 5th June
Med Leafed Clover
1.0 kgs
12.5 kgs
Inclusion of Drumbo and AberGain ensures maximum Spring growth AberChoice and AstonEnergy with their high D values 56% Tetraploid Combination of leading small and medium-leafed clovers Contains top two quality Tetraploid and Diploid varieties available in the market Grass quality is directly linked to increased milk solid production
ABERCHOICE
3.0 Kgs 11th June
Grazing with one large silage cut in late May/Early June.
BALLINTOY ( T )
2.0 Kgs 4th June
MEIDUNO ( T )
3.5 Kgs 3rd June
ABERCHOICE
3.0 kgs 11th June
ASTONENERGY ( T )
3.5 Kgs 1st June
SUITABILITY:
PREMIUM ONE CUT & GRAZE
OAKPARK
3.0 Kgs 2nd June
Med Leafed Clover
1.0 Kgs
12.5 Kgs
MULTI-SPECIES SWARD
Judicious use of Tetraploid varieties which have high yield, palatability and droughttolerance characteristics Also suitable for early grazing before closing up for silage 47% Tetraploid
Comments
ASTON ENERGY PRG
3.0 Kgs
Grass
High digestibility and top graze out variety
OAKPARK PRG
3.0 Kgs
Grass
Excellent Spring growth with high ground cover
TIMOTHY
1.0 Kgs
Grass
Grows well in cold soils, especially in Spring, different root structure to PRG
MEADOW FESCUE
1.0 Kgs
Grass
Thrives in lower fertility soil and fertiliser & offers variety in root structure
WHITE CLOVER
1.0 Kgs
Legume
Persistent under tight grazing, fills in gaps in swards
RED CLOVER
1.0 Kgs
Legume
More erect than white, deeper tap root, not persistent under tight grazing
SAINFOIN
1.0 Kgs
Legume
Antiparasitic ( anti worm ) properties & Tannins that help reduce risk of bloat
RIBWORT PLANTAIN
0.5 Kgs
Herb
High mineral content, deep root structure, robust under intensive grazing, diuretic
CHICORY
0.5 Kgs
Herb
Different root structure, Anti worm properties, used as a drought feed
12 Kgs
Sow 14 Kgs / acre
At Teagasc, Johnstown Castle, multi-species swards with ryegrass, red and white clovers, chicory and plantain fertilised with 150kg of N yielded more than perennial ryegrass receiving 250kg of N under a regular cutting regime.
Stage three: POST EMERGENCE It is recognised by Teagasc that using a quality post emergence spray to control a broad spectrum of weeds will result in enhanced grassland yields.
It takes about 11 months for a new sward to fully establish; therefore, the management of the reseed in this period is important. • Graze the new reseed as soon as the plants do not pull out of the ground (pulling test), at a cover of approximately 700–1,000kg DM/ha; • Historically, first grazing does were completed by youngstock/calves; however, where ground conditions allow, graze with the main grazing herd to move through the cover more rapidly; • For the next few grazings, frequent light grazings (≤1,400kg DM/ha) are advisable; • Avoid cutting for silage in the first year of establishment.
WEED CONTROL Post emergence spray should be applied five to eight weeks after reseeding Teagasc research indicates that a paddock capable of producing 10t DM/ha, with a 1t infestation of docks, will reduce yields of grass DM by 10%. Therefore, a typical paddock growing 10t DM/ha/year with a 40% infestation of docks, will grow 6t DM/ha and 4t DM/ha of docks – resulting in a 40% reduction on the grass DM yield potential of that paddock. Use appropriate spray, clover safe or non clover safe.
PROBLEM
Docks, Thistles, Chickweed, Buttercups and Dandelions Docks, Thistles, Nettles, Buttercups, Dandelions and Ragwort
SOLUTION
DOSE RATE
DESCRIPTION
1 L/ha (new sown leys)
• Controls broad spectrum of weeds such as buttercups, docks, thistles, chickweed, fat-hen and mayweed. • Not clover safe
Esteem® 5L PASTOR TRIO
9106284
Last date for use on new leys is 31st August
Envy® 3L 1.5 L/ha
• Can also be used on established grassland at 2.0 l/ha • Excellent on daisy, buttercup and dandelion • Not clover safe
2.0 L/ha
• Controls chickweed and established docks • Not clover safe
HERBICIDE
9094133
Hurler® T 5L Docks and Chickweed
HERBICIDE
9039603
Herd/PU numbers will be required for the purchase of Agrochemicals.
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