Derrypatrick Herd

Current projects: 1) The effect of sire index (high replacement vs high terminal index) and animal genotype on the productivity of pasture-based beef production systems. 2) To evaluate the effect of incorporating white clover into perennial ryegrass swards on sward production, grass utilisation, clover persistency and animal performance in pasture-based beef production systems

Purpose and Objectives

To explore new ideas and research different system comparisons using a herd of 100 suckler cows in a finishing system on 65 ha at Teagasc, Grange.
To provide leadership and direction to the industry and look to the future for issues that will arise and how the national suckler herd can deal with them

Production System

Spring-calving, suckler calf-to-beef.
Rotational paddock grazing.
Stocking rate: 200 kg organic N/ha.
Fertiliser Nitrogen: ~200 kg/ha.
2 silage harvests – first cut fed to progeny and second cut fed to cows.
Slaughter age: Heifers @ 20 months and Steers @ 24 months.

Measurements

The primary inputs and outputs to the system will be determined. Where appropriate, the main measurements will include:

Animal:

Live weight and body condition score
Intake of grazed grass and conserved forage (& supplementary concentrate)
Fertility
Milk yield
Calving interval
Slaughter and carcass traits of progeny

Sward / forage:

Pre- & post-grazing compressed sward heights
Pre- & post-grazing herbage mass
Pre- & post-grazing herbage dry matter, chemical composition and nutritive value
Herbage growth
Farm cover
Grass silage yield
Grass silage nutritive value
Annual feed budget constitution (system component basis).

Financial:

Financial performance/profitability of the breed types and systems