Key practical steps to get your reseeding right
Enda Doran runs a spring calving, grass based dairy farm of 140 British-Friesian Holstein cross cows. He is a new entrant to dairy farming having converted from sheep and suckler farming in 2016.
Since making the switch to dairy farming, maximising output from forage has never been more important for Enda as he considers it a vital part of achieving a successful and profitable dairy business.
Making reseeding decisions
Enda follows a grassland management plan which focuses on soil sampling every second year to see what nutrients are required in his soils and to try and correct soil pH and increase soil index. He also carries out grass measuring every week to identify which paddocks are underperforming.
With regards to timing, Enda’s preference is to reseed in the autumn. “On this farm, we find autumn a better time of the year to reseed as the grass has more time to establish over the winter. We aim for early turnout in spring, so this ensures that we have high quality grass available for stock,” says
Having worked closely with his local Agritech sales representative, Melissa Kelly, Enda chose the Tipperary Grass 4A mixture as it successfully encompasses all of the key traits he looks for in a grass seed mixture; high digestibility, palatability, longevity and a good inclusion of clover.
“We have used Tipperary Grass 4A for the last number of years and it has proven to be a high yielding, highly digestible grass seed mixture. It’s very palatable and we are getting great clean outs, which is key to achieving higher milk solids,” comments Enda.
Enda has also seen the benefits of Agritech’s unique GroQuik Biological Seed Stimulant which is added to all of the Tipperary Grass Seed mixtures. GroQuik® is designed to accelerate germination and especially root growth in both grasses and clover, with benefits seen for years post sowing.
Enda adds, “Within just one week, we saw the results of the GroQuik® dressing; grass was up and moved on very quickly. The longevity of the grass seed is excellent, as our older sown paddocks are as good as the day we sowed them and still producing highly.”
For further advice on autumn reseeding or to choose a suitable grass mixture from the Tipperary Grass Seed Range, contact your local Agritech sales representative/distributor or visit www. agritech.ie
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