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“There are three things old grass won’t do – it won’t grow in the shoulders of the year, it won’t fatten cattle and in terms of bagged manure, you may as well be throwing it away.” That’s what Tommy Holmes said on his farm on Thursday evening.
Second autumn #BETTERfarm walk of the season talking place this evening on Tommy Holmes’ farm in Ballina, Co. Mayo. Good crowd. Stay tuned to @FJBeef for updates... pic.twitter.com/yxsqk2W8lU
— Matthew Halpin (@MatthewHalpin22) September 12, 2019
Tommy hosted the second in a two-part autumn walk series as part of the BETTER Farm beef challenge. A crowd of more than 90 people attended the event held on the out-block of his 18ha holding on the outskirts of Ballina town.
Performance
The first board on the day featured an in-depth look the farm’s system with Tommy, his Teagasc BETTER Farm adviser Tommy Cox and his local Teagasc adviser Tom Kelly. Both the physical and financial performance of the farm to-date and the projected performance were presented.
BETTERFarm @teagasc adviser Tommy Cox in conversation with host Tommy Holmes. “Tommy was growing 15t DM/ya of grass but his variable costs were crippling him. To improve his margin, it was critical to maximize grass utilization to boost output.” @FJBeef pic.twitter.com/WlwNUFCgjT
— FJ Beef (@FJBeef) September 12, 2019
It was flagged that at current beef prices, the projected gross margin would more than likely not be achieved.
Question from the crowd regarding the slaughter age of the bulls. Roughly half under 16 and half over 16 months. “Will Tommy have to go all under 16 with current market?”... pic.twitter.com/td9DoHPxyL
— FJ Beef (@FJBeef) September 12, 2019
Health and weaning
The walk continued with a discussion on herd health and weaning preparation with the farm’s local vet Fintan O’Donnell and Matthew Halpin from the Irish Farmers Journal on the second stand.
“The plan was to put 50/69 bulls through the system each year to compliment the suckler herd,” says Tommy Cox.
— FJ Beef (@FJBeef) September 12, 2019
Tommy Holmes says “the out farm is more suited to Drystock than sucklers - it’s about using what you have.” #BETTERfarm pic.twitter.com/4dRNm1FMxT
Putting a suitable plan in place with your local vet to tackle pneumonia and parasites was the key message at this stand.
Tommy is vaccinating bought-in bulls against IBR, pneumonia and clostridial diseases. His autumn-calving cows have been vaccinated for Lepto and scour.
Grassland management
The booklet handed to attendees at the walk showed how crucial growing and utilising grass is to the farm. In 2018, just under 15t DM/ha of grass was grown – a hugely impressive feat.
Alan Nolan of @Teagasc - “roadways come later, paddocks should always come first.” Also, Tommy’s positioning of water troughs allows for sub-division which is critical. #BETTERfarm pic.twitter.com/n2218IPg1E
— FJ Beef (@FJBeef) September 12, 2019
Local Teagasc adviser Alan Nolan and BETTER Farm programme manager Martina Harrington from Teagasc were on hand at the third stand to explain the nuts and bolts of capturing the potential for grass.
“I would strongly recommend measuring grass. It’s a great tool. It gives me more confidence and, to me, farming is all about confidence” - Tommy Holmes on the importance of measuring grass.
— FJ Beef (@FJBeef) September 12, 2019
Measuring takes place religiously every week, on the same day of the week.#BETTERfarm pic.twitter.com/2GpZMgFeUO
RESEEDING:
— FJ Beef (@FJBeef) September 12, 2019
“There’s three things old-grass won’t do” says Tommy....listen here to what they are... #BETTERfarm
“Fertiliser? well you might aswell be throwing it away” ?? pic.twitter.com/UzKYmTde2q
Soil fertility
Of course, the foundation for growing grass is soil fertility. Teagasc BETTER Farm adviser John Greaney presented the fourth stand which captured the soil fertility status of the farm.
“Because it was limestone land I thought I wouldn’t need to spread lime. I was wrong.”
— FJ Beef (@FJBeef) September 12, 2019
BETTER farm @teagasc adviser John Greaney discussing lime spreading with Tommy.
2-3t/ha of lime going out at reseeding. pic.twitter.com/YMYg7FR3WD
“Fifty-five per cent of the farm is optimum for pH, phosphorous and potassium,” Greaney highlighted. “That’s very good when you consider only 10% of soils nationally are optimum.”
Some views on this farm walk... ?? #BETTERFarm @FJBeef @TeagascBeef pic.twitter.com/Vr5yckhXxZ
— Matthew Halpin (@MatthewHalpin22) September 12, 2019
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