Eoin Wims

Project title: Investigating the effect of including white clover into perennial ryegrass swards with varying levels of nitrogen fertiliser application on environmental nitrogen emissions, milk production efficiency, composition and functionality. 

Overview: Eoin is looking at the effect of including white clover into perennial ryegrass swards with varying levels of nitrogen (N) fertiliser application on N excretion and milk production efficiency of dairy cows.

This study will examine the biological nitrogen fixation capability of white clover to determine the optimum application of chemical N fertiliser to pasture-based systems as an approach to improving nitrogen use efficiency on farm whilst reducing reliance on chemical N as well as a measure to mitigate environmental N emissions.

This study will also seek a greater understanding of the nutritional mechanisms that allow increased dry matter intakes and milk production efficiency to be achieved when lactating dairy cows consume perennial ryegrass – white clover swards.

Eoin is from a dairy and sheep farm in County Sligo, his rural farming background instilled in him a passion for environmentally sustainable farming which led him to study agricultural science at UCD.

Programme Area: Grassland Science Department

Supervisors: Dr Michael Dineen, Dr Brian McCarthy, and Dr Tom O’Callaghan

Location: Teagasc Animal & Grassland Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork

Funding Source: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine