The average mid-season stocking rates on Irish sheep farms are averaging eight ewes per hectare. It’s understood that grassland utilisation in this regard is a key driver of profit within all sheep enterprises.
The latest findings were released at the 2022 College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) Virtual Sheep Conference. According Teagasc research scientist Dr. Phil Creighton, who presented the findings, “growing 1 ton of grass dry matter per year will meet the needs of a single ewe and her lambs”. The information highlights the necessity of rotational grazing on farms and the importance of grass utilisation.
Dr. Creighton additionally focused on five components regarding grazing management that being:
- Soil fertility
- Grazing infrastructure
- Grazing management
- Grass budgeting
- Reseeding
“Paddocks form the basis of all rotational systems and they must be managed with the following principle in mind – grow grass for three weeks; graze for three days,” says Creighton.
It appears as though paddocks are vital for rotational grazing systems as they improve grass utilisation and production. This results in the positive outcome for farm management, as the use of paddocks additionally increases animal performance allowing for flexibilty.
Creighton adds that “At the height of the grazing season, it takes grass plants 21 days to regrow three full leaves. In the shoulders of the season this process will take that little bit longer”.
LSL News.