Futureproofing Irish dairy systems at Ballyhaise
Ballyhaise Farm hosted a major open day on July 24, where the latest technologies available to Irish farmers to futureproof dairy systems were shared.
Welcoming farmers to the event, John Kelly, Principal of Ballyhaise Agricultural College, highlighted why addressing the challenge of sustainability is paramount.
He said: “We are dedicated to incorporating all outputs into a circular economy. Our facilities are constantly being upgraded and improved. Our latest advancements, include pasture renewal and enhanced infrastructure such as slurry storage, farm roadways and fencing.
Principal of Ballyhaise Agricultural College, John Kelly welcoming visitors to the Ballyhaise Open Day
“Our teaching and advisory staff are engaged in continuous training to stay updated on the latest technological developments from our research, ensuring that we provide our students and farmer clients with the most current information.”
Keep grazing principles to the fore
Speaking at the first information point at the open day, Donal Patton, Research Officer in Teagasc, said: “Both significant economic value and improved environmental sustainability have been achieved in the Irish dairy sector by focusing on core grazing principles to maintain low production costs and high levels of pasture utilisation."
He continued: “Our grazing systems can be improved by reducing reliance on supplementary feed and chemical fertilisers by incorporating white clover within grazing swards. The successful establishment of white clover in the border midland and western (BMW) region of Ireland can significantly reduce requirements for chemical nitrogen fertilisers whilst maintaining similar pasture productivity to perennial ryegrass only swards which require increased chemical N applications levels.”
Farm systems study
Dr Brendan Horan, grassland researcher, and Helena Walsh, PhD student at Ballyhaise Farm, provided an overview of the five-year, farm systems study ongoing, which is evaluating how white clover performs under wetland grazing dairy systems.
Dr Brendan Horan, centre, explaining the farm systems study ongoing at the Ballyhaise Farm
To date, the farm systems study has shown that white clover can successfully be established in the border, midlands and west (BMW) region of Ireland to maintain pasture productivity and reduce the dependence on chemical fertiliser nitrogen. Although only early results, a long-term evaluation will be completed on the persistence and productivity of white clover swards, which is essential to encourage greater adoption on commercial farms.
Helena Walsh, standing at board, providing details of the farm systems study underway at Ballyhaise Farm
In terms of the establishment of white clover swards, tips were shared by Dr Áine Murray, Post-Doctoral Nitrogen Researcher, and Alastair Pollock, Education Officer at Ballyhaise Agricultural College. Essential to the establishment of white clover is optimum soil fertility levels; soil pH levels of 6.5, along with soil phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) indices of 3, are required.
Research findings from Moorepark and Clonakilty Agricultural College were also shared, which showed that grass-white clover swards can substantially increase the profitability of spring-calving grazing dairy systems while simultaneously improving the sustainability of such systems.
Financial performance
Trends in physical and financial performance on dairy farms were also discussed by Dr Joe Patton (pictured below), Head of Dairy Knowledge Transfer at Teagasc, and Patrick Gowing, Teagasc Dairy Specialist. They noted that there has been a fundament change in farm cost structures in 10 years, and a large range in farm financial performance was evident in 2023. However, pasture converted to milk solids is a key driver of margin and cost control is essential in all areas.
Dr Patton said: “The rate of increase in farm input costs has accelerated in recent years, driven by a combination of unit price increases and input usage levels per farm.
“Feed budget costs have increased significantly while pasture utilisation has been declining; given the strong link between pasture utilisation and farm profit, this trend needs to be reversed.”
He added: “Compared to farms with low net margins, higher margin farms utilise more pasture to produce extra milk sales for no increase in supplement fed. Higher margin farms have lower variable and fixed costs indicating better cost control across a range of categories.”
Breeding
On the breeding front, Dr Margaret Kelleher, ICBF, and Anthony Mulligan, Dairy Advisor at Teagasc, shared details of a modern breeding strategy for high profit dairy farming.
Dr Margaret Kelleher and Anthony Mulligan pictured at the Ballyhaise Open Day
As part of this presentation, changes in the usage of sexed semen were highlighted, now accounting for 20% of the total number of dairy AI serves in 2024, while elements such as the changes in beef sire usage, the Dairy Beef Index (DBI) and Commercial Beef Value (CBV) were discussed in detail.
Grassland learnings from 2024
Additionally, Joseph Dunphy, Grass10 Advisor, and Owen McPartland, Teagasc/Lakeland Joint Programme Advisor, reviewed grass performance on Irish farms this year and looked at some of the key lessons learned. Central to their presentation was: the importance of good grazing infrastructure to get grass into the diet of the dairy cow; the impacts quality pasture have on milk composition; and why farmers need to reassess their silage making strategy to allow for the production of high quality silage to support milk production at times when cows can’t access grass.
Along with concluding with a panel discussion centred on Farming in Partnerships, other information presented at the Ballyhaise’24 Dairy Open Day included: Ballyhaise herd performance; young stock management; Signpost at Ballyhaise; and Bovine TB.
The full publication along with the information boards from the event are available here.