Learn about the secrets of a successful grassland farmer with Aidan Maguire and the Teagasc Grass10 and DairyBeef500 teams on 31 August, 2022 at 6.30pm. You’re invited to join the walk on Maguire’s farm in Navan, Co. Meath, Eircode: C15 W4C2 to discover more about how he won the 2021 Grassland Farmer of the Year award in the Drystock Enterprise Category.
Maguire joined his local Grass10 group and the Dairy calf-to-beef programme three years ago. “The single biggest improvement I made to my farm was to actually measure the grass. To me, it feels like I’m actually counting my money. When the grass is growing well, my business is growing well!” he said.
He removes bales when there’s a surplus to ensure animals graze lighter covers to put on maximum live weight at the lowest cost. His beef output report is over 1,400kg live weight/ha, which is more than three times the national average.
“Everything you feed in the yard is costing you extra money; the cattle feeding themselves in the field are making it for you,” he said.
Maintaining an excellent paddock system, new central (grass) roadway, and measuring have contributed to the increased amount of grass grown and consumed on his farm whilst reducing the amount of fertiliser spread.
Maguire has clover on a lot of paddocks, which has also increased with better grazing management and excellent soil fertility. He has also reseeded some silage ground with grass and red clover.