Michael McGuigan May/June Update 2023

Grassland

Controlling docks – always on the agenda!
Keep control on grass – maintaining a leafy sward
Management of clover swards

Grassland

Having previously been a stud farm , a part of Michael’s five year plan was to improve the grassland and to focus on better grass utilisation. The farm was divided with permanent electric fences and water troughs added throughout the farm. With very little ryegrass in the sward , he no choice but to start a reseeding programme. This is an easier way to eliminate all the weeds and docks than controlling them in existing swards.

Before any reseed , Michael sprays off the poor quality sward with a glyphosate herbicide which kills all surface weeds and scutch grass. After 2 weeks, the ground is tilled and sown. After another 5 to 6 weeks , Michael will always follow up with a post emergence spray. Docks and other weeds can survive in a new ley and therefore need to be sprayed. Michael believes that the post emergence spray is the most important application of a herbicide in the lifetime of a grassland sward.

Reseeding is a costly investment so it is crucial that everything is done to give the new reseed the best chance to establish successfully. Controlling weeds with a post emergence spray that is clover safe, gives the greatest opportunity for creating a clean, weed – free sward that will be productive for the long term.

When to use the post emergence spray?

When the seedling docks is the size of a €2 coin in the new pasture . This takes 5-6 weeks after sowing. Spraying too early could mean that the weed seeds have not germinated and too late the dock root will have had time to develop. As Michael is focusing on incorporating clover into the farm – he will always use a clover safe spray. There are a number of other considerations also to ensure success;

Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations closely, using the correct dosage and water rate
Michael sprays in good conditions when its dull and calm
The weed/dock plant must be actively growing
All records are kept for cross-compliance purposes
Spraying equipment and nozzles are in correct working order

Existing Grassland

Even though most of the docks and weeds are now under control , there is always outbreaks which can now be spot sprayed without having to spray the entire field. Michael has started incorporating clover by oversowing in the last year. In the year, prior to oversowing , he will ensure that the paddock or field in completely weed free as sourcing a clover safe spray is increasing becoming a challenge.

Also keeping a thick, dense and leafy sward will reduce or even eliminate docks as grass will out-compete the docks for space, light and nutrients.

Image 1: Silage closed since April 4th

Keeping control of grass- maintain a leafy sward in May

Michael’s objective during the main grazing season (May to August) is to achieve high daily live weight gains from a grass-only diet. High animal performance will be achieved by maintaining a consistent grass supply for the herd and monitoring farm grass cover every 5 days. This will allow decisions to be made to alter grass supply early; for example, adjusting stocking rates or removing surplus grass.

The key grassland management guidelines for this period are;

Aim to consistently offer animals a sward where there is green leaf to the base and very little stem
Ideal pre-grazing yield targets are 7 – 10 cm (1300 – 1600 kg DM/ha).
Maximum pre-grazing yield is 10 – 11 cm (1600 – 1800 kg DM/ha).
If this is exceeded, excess grass should be removed as baled silage (depending on grass supply)
Rotation length should be maintained at 19 – 21 days
Early identification of surpluses by measuring grass weekly
Surpluses are taken as a light crop of bales
No more than a maximum of 14 and a minimum of 10 days ahead should be maintained during the main grazing season
Farm grass cover should be maintained at 550 – 600 kg DM/ha

Michael aims to grow 14ton DM/ha of grass this year while reducing his chemical nitrogen by 10% through better use of clover. He has also added to the existing farm infrastructure by increasing the number of water troughs. All fields can be further sub-divided with pigtails and reels.

Managing Clover swards

In 2022 , Michael selected paddocks which had excellent soil fertility, a pH of 6.7 and that were weed free for the oversowing of clover. Clover can provide nitrogen for grass growth as well as having a positive effect on livestock performance . Grassland management needs to be top-class and Michael is very careful in managing these pastures ;

The paddocks were grazed bare at the of last year to allow light into the pasture over the winter.
During this years grazing season , the stock are let into slightly lower covers of 1000-1200kgs/DM/ha ie dense grass covers that will shade out the clover is avoided
The paddocks are grazed bare to 4cm at each grazing
The application of chemical N will be stopped during the summer months
Paddocks are grazed every 14-16 days during May and June
Each paddock is grazed in 2-3 days and then stock are moved on