In 2022, Kilkenny farmer Jimmy Madigan, began reseeding with climate smart clovers and grasses.
Jimmy saw both economic and environmental benefits, notably reducing his annual nitrogen bill of €30,000.
The farm is dry and covers 252ac. Primarily suckler beef farmers, the family also have 50 to 60 bulls, and 200 store lambs that are finished over winter.
Jimmy said: “Our suckler system is a 50-50 autumn and spring calving herd. 50 females go to the bull for calving in August and September, with 50 females going to the bull for calving in January, February and March.
“So, we normally end up with around 85-90 cows calving down, and anything that is empty is culled.”
Store lambs are purchased in August and September for grazing until the new year, with the first lambs sent to the factory in January.
“We finish roughly 150 cattle/year. All stock that is produced on farm is finished on farm,” he added.
Grazing and silage management
The farm is reasonably dry, allowing for a long grazing season.
Paddocks measure from two to five acres, with most coming in at three and four acres. Jimmy’s rotational system lets stock graze for three days, and then paddocks are rested for three weeks.
As for silage, Jimmy has implemented a two-cut system and avoids cutting the same land every year.
“We can move in and out of silage ground when grass gets too plentiful, and we can use some grassland as silage. Or, when grass gets too scarce, we can move into silage ground,” he explained.
Weather challenges
Faced with heavy rainfall and wet conditions, cattle are moved every one or two days to reduce sward damage, rather than every three days, sometimes leaving grass behind.
When it comes to drought conditions, Jimmy buffer feeds his cows.
“We have an advantage here with the two separate herds; we can wean calves at different times of the year and house animals at different times of the year,” he said.
Reseeding strategy – climate smart clovers
Jimmy worked with his Germinal team to devise a seed mixture for a field reseeded on April 23, 2022, that incorporated perennial ryegrass, plus red and white clover.
The mixture featured AberGain and AberChoice perennial ryegrasses, with AberClaret red clover and AberHerald white clover.
“When selecting grass seed mixtures, we want good grass cover for quality bulk cuts of silage. We also aim for a long grazing season and grass that grows well on the shoulder periods of the year.
“The plan for the future, is to incorporate this mixture in all our reseeding programmes over the next number of years,” he said.
Glyphosate was applied in March, and the ground was then disced twice and sown with a one-pass system. Three bags of 13-6-20 plus sulphur were applied to aid establishment and rolled after.
First grazed on June 14, 2022, Jimmy maintained his three-week interval strategy for the remainder of the year.
Lambs were then stored over winter and the field was cut on May 16, 2023, yielding eight-and-a-half bales to the acre.
“The beauty of this field is that it has great forage quality and we’re producing very high-quality silage, which is reducing the need for purchased protein – it’s all grown here on farm.”
Maximising production and sustainability with grass and clover
“We’re seeing improved weight gain across all groups of animals. Plus, it’s receiving no chemical nitrogen, which is a big benefit to my pocket and a big benefit to the environment,” Jimmy revealed.
He believes that reducing chemical nitrogen use is fundamental to sustainable grassland management.
He continued: “The use of organic manures and the use of clover, red clover and white clover, needs to happen.
“We introduced red clover for the first time in April 2022, because we wanted to be climate smart. The climate is in trouble worldwide and we need to do our bit.
“We are getting better animal performance, we’re getting equal yields on our silage ground with no applications of nitrogen, and our animals are doing better plus we can produce a high-protein crop which reduces the need for expensive imported protein.
“We see our cattle thriving, and we can see that our grass growth is exceptional. If I can grow plenty of high-quality forage and grass at a lower cost to my pocket, then it’s definitely the way to go on this farm.”
“Our annual nitrogen bill in 2022 was somewhere in the region of €30,000. I don’t think that is sustainable on my part, and it is not sustainable for the environment either,” Jimmy said.
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