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Newford block

  • 26.72ha or 66acres – main block with yard.
  • Paddock system installed in 2015.
  • Graze some yearlings at start of year.
  • Gradual turnout of cows and calves to smaller sheltered paddocks close to the yard.
  • Join cows and calves into two main groups – 45 to 50 cows.
  • Grow grass for three weeks – graze in three days.
  • Maintain pre-grazing covers at target of 1,500kg DM/ha.
  • Take out surplus grass as baled silage – manage grass and replenish fodder supplies.
  • Reseed 3ha of poor-performing grassland.

    • Raheen Woods

  • 15.51ha or 38.3acres – one mile away.
  • Driest part of farm.
  • Main block for silage on the farm.
  • Closed on 10 October 2015.
  • Weather delayed target for March grazing until April.
  • Pushed closing date for first-cut silage from 1 April to 12 April.
  • Close for second cut – target harvest date of the start of August.
  • Graze from the end of August to 10 October with finishing cattle.
  • No reseeding or changes to infrastructure required.

    • Gort na hAbhainn

  • 13.57ha or 33.53acres - one mile away in opposite direction.
  • Land type heavier in nature.
  • Grazing block for one- to two-year-old cattle.
  • Two groups with eight divisions.
  • Very high stocking rate (3,000kg DM/ha).
  • Will be under most pressure to grow grass; need to utilise 13t grass DM/ha on this block.
  • Upper drier half was reseeded in 2015.
  • Portion of lower half may be reseeded depending on grass supply in 2016.
  • New water system; also drainage job to alleviate flooding.
  • New crush erected to handle stock efficiently and safely on this block.

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    Full coverage: Newford Farm