FORAGE AND
NUTRITION GUIDE
€5
2023
IRISH
FARMERS
MONTHLY
Forage_Guide_2023.indd 1 27/03/2023 16:48

48
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3
4 Introduction
6 News
12 Machinery news
16 More Intensive N Regulations Penalises
Productivity
18 Making Better Quality and More Cost-E�fective
Baled Silage
22 Managing Young Stock at Grass
25 Silage Harvesting in Ireland
27 Grazing the Green Stu�f: A Double-edged Sword
29 Renewable Energy: What’s in it for Farmers?
31 Leading Dairy Tech Company Helps Tackle
Farm Emissions and Improve Sustainability
33 Optimise Milk Fat Production for Economic
Reward
37 New Technology for Livestock Farmers
39 Plan Ahead for Better 2023 Silage
40 Farming for the Future
42 Increasing E���ciency Sustainably Reduces Cost
44 Carbery Milk Quality and Sustainability Award
Winning Dairy Farmer
46 Pro��table Lamb Production
48 Feeling Social
49 Digest-It Slurry Treatment
Editor: Liam de Paor
Design: Niall O’Brien
Commercial and Advertising Manager: Anna Douglas
Advertising Manager: Brian Murphy
Machinery Correspondent: Noel Dunne
Chief Executive: Rebecca Markey
Publisher: David Markey
Accounts: Tricia Murtagh
Administration & Subscriptions: Sue Nolan
Publishers: IFP Media
Forage & Nutrition Guide 2023,
IFP Media, Castlecourt, Monkstown Farm,
Monkstown, Co. Dublin A96 P924.
Tel: +353 1 709 6900 • Fax: +353 1 709 6933
Email: info@ifpmedia.com • www.irishfarmersmonthly.com
Copyright IFP Media 2023.
No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form without the express written permission of the publishers.
3
Increasing E���ciency Sustainably Reduces Cost
Carbery Milk Quality and Sustainability Award
CONTENTS
t
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4
While the total number of cattle dropped by 1.5 per cent in December 2022
compared to the same period last year, the number of dairy cows rose slightly to
1.51 million (+0.3 per cent). The number of other cows fell by 27,900. The total number
of cattle aged 1-2 years grew by 34,500, while cattle aged 2 years and over rose by 5,200.
The provisional ��gures for sheep numbers show a slight increase of 2,800 compared to
December 2021. The number of breeding sheep was down by 43,500 while the number
of other sheep increased by 46,300. So, livestock numbers are at a record level while
silage stocks are lower due to much higher fertiliser prices and a consequent fall in its
usage. According to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, total fertiliser
sales are expected to be approximately 20 per cent lower than 2021.
However, the good news is that, due to new technology, livestock farmers can
signi��cantly improve silage quality and greatly reduce in store DM losses by using a
quality silage additive and the innovative Film&Film system for baled silage.
Last year, farm gate prices for cattle, lamb and beef were excellent and the future looks
good for the agri sector as the world population continues to grow. 2023 is not a great
year for lamb producers, however sheep are a complementary enterprise for many beef
and tillage farmers. Overhead costs are low compared to other livestock and sheep can
graze land unsuitable for cattle on hilly land or on soft ground. Hopefully, in due course,
a pro��table market will be found for wool, perhaps in the insulation sector.
As the standard of living improves, families in Africa, Asia and the Middle East can
a�ford to consume more dairy products and eat more of our grass-fed meat. By 2050, food
production will have to increase by 50 per cent to feed the growing world population and
to improve the health of the undernourished people in the third world.
Unfortunately, as Matt O’Kee�fe explains in his article, more intensive N regulations are
penalising productivity on dairy farms. Dairy farmers, in particular, are under intense
scrutiny by urban-based environmental activists who see food production as a problem,
while often ignoring the need to feed the world or the fact that EU imports of beef and
feed soya are farmed on former Brazilian forest land.
Fortunately, agri IT is enabling farmers to save labour and time while improving all
aspects on beef, crop, lamb and milk production. The young farmer today is better
educated than ever and we are turning out a record number of ag graduates from 15
third level institutions on the island. Another issue to note is that, with a rapidly aging
farmer population, it is much easier for progressive young farmers to lease extra land
from their elderly neighbours, many of whom have no successors.
As always, excellent advice and research information is available from Teagasc, UCD,
AFBI, as well as other research institutions in Britain. This publication has some
excellent examples of how modern technology is helping farmers to cope with these
issues, reduce costs and to improve farm incomes.
Livestock farmers need to plan for more feed security through some diversi��cation from
grassland. Leasing, renting or purchasing extra grassland is not a viable option for most
beef or milk producers. However, using a TMR system to bu�fer feed their stock during
poor grass growing conditions, or when problems arise from an early winter or a late
spring, is certainly an option.
To ensure adequate future feed supplies, they could contract with local tillage farms
to grow barley, purchase straw, grow fodder beet, forage maize and ��eld beans – all of
which would ensure a tasty and nutritious diet for their valuable stock. Aside from ��eld
beans, another option to reduce imports of soya beans is to grow Lucerne silage. As
it is a legume, it needs no N, is high in protein (18–25 per cent) and grows well under
drought conditions. It is also a good complement to maize silage because it is high in
the nutrients that are low in maize. Using more homegrown feed ingredients can also
reduce our carbon footprint. For example, a typical feed compounders ration containing
Irish grain and protein has a carbon footprint of 46 per cent lower than one containing
imported maize and soya.
I hope you enjoy this issue,
Liam de Paor,
Editor.
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to this year’s
issue of the Forage &
Nutrition Guide – where
we have compiled
a wide selection of
features and interviews
focused on this sector
and we hope you find
them informative.
Forage_
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48
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Cream improved milk income on Irish
farms by €2422 per month*, with an average uplift in milk butterfat of 0.33%
within 7 days and 0.51% within 1 month of feeding.
www.provimi.eu/uk-equaliser @CargillAnimalNutritionIreland
T Michael Luttrell (Republic of Ireland) +353 86 254 8827
Gordon Richardson (West and Northern Ireland) +353 87 6191616
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Contact us today to maintain your herd performance this spring!
*Average daily income per cow improved by 80c. Monthly figures based on a 100 cow herd.
So good the cows want it
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Forage_Guide_2023.indd 48 16/03/2023 15:03
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6
BREWER’S YEAST REDUCES METHANE PRODUCTION IN COWS
Brewer’s yeast used to make beer is typically
discarded once it’s no longer needed. Sometimes,
though, the leftover yeast is mixed into livestock
feed as a source of protein and vitamins. Now, there
may be even more reason to continue the practice,
according to the Agricultural Research Service (ARS)
in the USA.
Laboratory results the team published in the journal
Frontiers in Animal Science suggest that using leftover
brewer›s yeast as a feed additive may benefit the
environment by helping cows belch less methane into
the air. Agriculture accounts for 11 per cent of all US
greenhouse gas emissions (5,981 million metric tons
of CO2
equivalent), with ruminant animals including
cows responsible for more than a quarter of that
total, according to the Environmental Protection
Agency.
Methane from cows is a waste by-product arising
from the fermentation activity of certain kinds of
microbes, called methanogens, in the rumen. Another
group of rumen microbes, known as “hyper-ammonia-
producing bacteria,” are behind the animal’s excretion
of ammonia, a potential air- and water-quality
concern. The microbes’ production of methane
and ammonia from food the cow eats also robs the
animal of amino acids needed for growth and milk
production, explained Michael Flythe, a research
microbiologist with the ARS Forage-Animal Production
Research Unit in Lexington, Kentucky.
Flythe’s co-investigation of the preventive role that
brewer’s yeast may play is part of an ongoing effort
to develop natural alternatives to using expensive
protein supplements and monensin (a special class of
ionophore antibiotic only approved for use in cattle)
to keep the gas-producing microbes in check. A prior
focus on that front has included incorporating red
clover into the animal’s diet.
Most recently, Flythe teamed with Robert Bryant
(ASR) and Rhys Burns, Christopher Feidler-Cree and
Denia Carlton and Langdon Martin — all of WWC
(Warren Wilson College) — to explore the preventive
potential of leftover brewer’s yeast, which ferment
grains used in making ale, lager and other types of
beer. According to a 2019 study, brewers in the EU
generate 6 million tons of SBGs annually and 1m
tonnes of spent brewer’s yeast.
During the brewing process, the yeast, known
as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, absorb humolones,
lupolones and other compounds from hops that
contribute to beer’s flavour and aroma. Humolones
and lupolones are both biologically active molecules
that inhibit certain bacteria and other microbes,
including those that trigger the cow’s release of
methane and ammonia. But until recently, little
research had been done to learn whether leftover
brewer’s yeast enriched with hops compounds could
be just as effective at controlling the rumen microbes’
noxious ways.
To find out, the researchers took samples of spent
brewer’s yeast used to make six different kinds
of beer at a local brewery and added them to
flasks containing live cultures of either methane,
or ammonia-producing microbes. After a 24-hour
incubation period, the researchers sampled the gases
and analysed them, observing a direct correlation
between the concentration of hops compounds in the
spent yeast and the amount of gas produced.
The team also used baker’s yeast and monensin
as controls for comparison. Not surprisingly, the
baker’s yeast, which had not been exposed to hops
during the brewing process, failed to tamp down
microbes’ production of the gases. However, the spent
brewer’s yeast — flush with the hops compounds
it had absorbed — curbed the microbes’ methane
production by 25 per cent on average — a reduction
comparable to monensin.
Although spent brewer’s yeast is sometimes used as a
livestock feed additive, Flythe said cow feeding trials
would still be necessary to fully assess its potential to
reduce methane and ammonia on a farm scale.
Those results, in turn, should give a better idea of the
yeast’s potential role as part of a larger, integrated
approach to making animal agriculture more
environmentally sustainable, Flythe added.
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48
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8
VIRTUAL FENCING FOR GALLOWAY CATTLE ON TORY ISLAND BIODIVERSITY PROJECT
Using a combination of Global Positioning
System (GPS) sensors, wireless technologies and
remote mapping, virtual fencing aims to keep
animals contained in certain areas. When the
livestock approaches the virtual boundary, a GPS
collar will emit a sound that increases in volume.
The animal gets an electrical pulse if they cross
the coordinates of the perimeter fence.
In order for the technology to be successful, the
training process for the animals and farmers is
a key factor to ensure that animal welfare and
environmental obligations are to the fore.
Cattle have been reintroduced to Tory Island
for the first time in 25 years. As part of the
Corncrake/Traonach LIFE Project, five Galloway
heifers made the 9-mile trip from Seanie Boyle’s
farm on the mainland to their new home. A
virtual fence is used to keep them grazing on
the target fields and from damaging the lawns
of local residents. Tory Island is one of the most
remote inhabited islands of Ireland, with a
population of only 120 people. It is hoped that
the hardy Galloway breed will create the ideal
habitats for corncrakes to nest and rear chicks.
To date, the grazing project is working well as the
cattle now have the rank grass grazed back and
under control.
The corncrake is part of Ireland’s heritage,
celebrated in poems and stories for over 1,000
years. Tory Island is a critically important
summer breeding ground for their ever-
dwindling population, before the birds migrate
to southern Africa for the winter months.
According to Dr John Carey who manages the
project, corncrakes do not favour unmanaged
or poorly grown grassland. Farmers are helping
to preserve the species, and there is a legal
obligation on Ireland to protect corncrakes, so
farmers are providing an important biodiversity
service.
CASE STUDY FOR DIGEST-IT
Dairygold milk supplier Mitchell Hayes from Blarney, Co. Cork, has used Digest-it to ease slurry management as it reduces agitation time by 75 per cent. In
addition, there has been a marked reduction in odour, including ammonia emissions.
With Mitchell wanting to maintain grass production with less reliance on bagged fertiliser, the improved nutrient content of Digest-it-treated slurry
enables this improvement in sustainability to occur.
“Our current focus is to maintain our level of production, while relying less on imported artificial fertilisers and reducing the inputs.”
Mitchell Hayes farms near Blarney, Co. Cork and is a milk supplier to Dairygold Co Op. He has a spring calving herd of 250 cross bred cows and grows
14-16t DM/ha of grass pa. He started off by using Digest-it slurry additive on two tanks in winter 2021. He was so pleased with the results that this year he is
using it on all his slurry tanks. The initial advantages were ease of management of the slurry and the reduction of odours at the time of spreading, and the
fact that the nutrient became more available to the plants. “It also reduces our ammonia emissions.”
Digest-it treated slurry grows more grass in a cost-effective way and represents an important action to become less dependent on chemical fertiliser and
to improve dairy herd sustainability and profit. Better still, it only costs 3 euros per 1,000 gallons of slurry.
Forage_Guide_2023.indd 8 27/03/2023 16:48

MUCH LOWER CARBON FOOTPRINT FOR DIETS USING IRISH BEANS & CEREALS
Speaking at the Quinns of Baltinglass 2023 Sustainable Tillage conference, William Quinn spoke of the changes that Quinns have made and are planning to
make so they are as sustainable as possible, which will benefit their livestock customers as well as the environment.
Valerie Hobson, head of feed at Quinns, also spoke about the carbon footprint equivalents (CO2
e) of feed using native grains versus imported grains.
Quinns is a large buyer of native cereals (180,000 tonnes pa), while also being a feed miller. They also use as much Irish beans as they can to replace
imported soya and they also purchase Irish-grown oilseed rape.
Field beans are a high protein crop well-suited to the Irish climate with a relatively high yield potential (6-8 t/ha for winter and 4.5-7.5 t/ha for spring
varieties). Annual production has increased from 3,000ha to 11,000ha in recent years aided by a protein crop support scheme.
According to Teagasc field beans are an excellent break-crop, as it is an N-fixing legume, which benefits the succeeding cereal crop in rotations. This crop
has the potential to displace approx. 1.2Mt of imported protein feed.
Quinns emphasise the importance of the Irish tillage sector and the ability to have traceable feed ingredients. On average, all their feed mixes include 40
per cent Irish-grown ingredients and this could be as high as 60 per cent in some cases. Valerie outlined how a typical beef ration containing Irish grain
and protein had a carbon footprint of 281kg of CO2
e/t. That’s 240kg/t of CO2
or 46 per cent lower than a comparable ration containing imported maize and
soya, which had a carbon footprint of 521kg of CO2
e/t. carbon per tonne.
The Quinns’ nutritionist also outlined the differences in the carbon footprint of dairy rations. An Irish cereal and bean-based 19 per cent dairy pellet came
in at 1,298kg of CO2e/t, while the maize/soya-based 19 per cent dairy pellet had a carbon footprint of 2,098kg of CO2
e/t, meaning the Irish cereal/bean-
based pellet has 60 per cent less emissions. Valerie suggested that it will not be long before carbon figures will need to be declared on feed rations. This
surely has to be a positive thing and the way forward for sustaining Irish tillage.
Quinns have been producing animal feeds for over 25 years and invested €5m during 2017 in their feed mill and a further €1m during 2022 in new facilities.
They sell over 100,000 tonnes of feed pa to farmers in the neighbouring counties. Thirty per cent of the bags used for packaging are made from recycled
plastics and this will increase to 50 per cent in due course.
KRONE EASYCUT R MOWERS
Designed for the professional farmer and contractor, these extra
heavy-duty centre-pivot mowers are available in 2.8m (9ft), 3.2m
(10ft) and 3.6m (11ft), with and without conditioner. Like all Krone
mowers, they boast Safecut and a fully welded cutter bar. The Krone
CV conditioner features lock-out tines, Hardox plates and a 640mm
diameter rotor. Unlike many other mower beds, the Krone features a
one-piece fully welded casing made of high quality, heavy gauge steel
for huge strength and durability. This is manufactured in-house by
Krone and they do not allow any other brands to use it.
According to the company, the wedge shape gives a clean cut, even
in lodged crops. The bed features a host of smart features like the
famous SafeCut disc protection, the patented Krone system protects
the disc and complete driveline. On impact, the roll pin shears and the
disc spins up and out of the way of neighbouring discs. 10 minutes
and a 20c part gets you back working and could save €000’s in
repairs. Quick change blades are another handy feature that come
standard on all Krone mowers.
All EasyCut Krone Mowers come as standard with the DuoGrip
suspension system. This system suspends the mower at its centre
of gravity which allows it to float on even the hilliest terrain. Krone
mowers are designed to sit low and centre when in transport position.
Whether it be 7 foot or 12 foot, the Krone mower sits over centre, which
ensures it doesn’t stick out on narrow roads and is also very stable at
high transport speeds.
9
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KVERNELAND 15.6M HIGH
CAPACITY TEDDER
Kverneland’s latest addition to their Tedder
range is the high capacity 85156 Tedder. With
close to 16m working width and 14 rotors, it is
designed with high output and excellent crop
quality in mind. All elements of the 85156 C are
dimensioned with intensive usage in mind,
focusing on providing more productivity and
reduced downtime for all silage conditions.
The tedders continues Kverneland’s focus on
silage quality, with the small diameter rotor
ensuring maximum drying potential is realised.
“By increase drying speed we aim to secure a
high value nutrition content” says John Doyle,
Product Manager, Kverneland Group Ireland.
“Ideally, we hope to get the best possible result
within the shortest time frame.”
The 14 small diameter rotors of the 85156 are
designed for maximum spreading quality across
the full working width of the Tedder. The rotor
design provides a generous overlap between
the rotors, giving an efficient pick-up and
turning of the crop.
All Kverneland tedders feature the Super-C
tines, made from 10mm spring steel of equal
length. According to the company, this gives
the added advantage that the load is spread
evenly on both tines, providing longer lifespan
of the tines. For heavy conditions the angle
of the rotor can be set aggressively while for
fragile crop, a gentler angle can be chosen.
This versatility also allows farmers to adapt to
changing weather conditions ensuring their
crops dry evenly and efficiently.
One particular feature on the full Tedder range
offered is the positioning of the rotor gearbox on
the frame means reduced stress on the Tedder
frame. Another important feature is Kverneland’s
reputation for durability. Additionally, the
tedders are equipped with maintenance free
drive-line and rotor heads, greasing points are
kept to a minimum, while border tedding comes
as standard. Large wheels and tires provide
excellent manoeuvrability, even on rough
terrain. Importantly, for such a large working
width the Tedder folds into a transport width
below 3m and is driven like a trailer on road
following behind the tractor.
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Forage_Guide_2023.indd 10 27/03/2023 16:49

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Forage_Guide_2023.indd 11 27/03/2023 16:49

NEW PÖTTINGER HIT V 11100
Grassland specialist Pöttinger meets the requirements of
high output and cost effective farming with the new ten
rotor linkage mounted tedder. With its 1.42 metre rotors and
10.70 metre working width (DIN), the HIT V 11100 combines
excellent tedding quality with maximum output. The short
three-point headstock places the centre of gravity very
close to the tractor. Thanks to the compact design of all
Pöttinger linkage-mounted tedders, safe operation on
steep inclines, even at the headland, and safe handling
during road transport are ensured. The new HIT V 11100 is
equipped with a ball eye and linkage rod combined with
two hydraulic centring cylinders as standard. The machine
tracks perfectly during tedding. The high centring force of
the hydraulic cylinders ensures smooth guidance of the
ten rotors without swaying. When lifting the machine at the
headland, the tedder first dips slightly at the linkage rod
(slotted hole). The two hydraulic centring cylinders on the
headstock then retract as far as they will go. The tedder
glides smoothly into the centre position. The dipping
action during lifting also causes the rotors to tilt back. This
ensures that the tines do not scrape against the ground,
keeping the forage clean as a result. The HIT V 11100 only
needs a space 3.40 m high and 2.99 m wide when parked.
The heart of the machine is the innovative DYNATECH rotor.
The rotor has an ideal diameter of 1.42 metres. The six
swept tine arms pick up the forage cleanly and deliver a
perfect spread pattern due to the ideal spreading angle.
PÖTTINGER MOWER COMBINATION DELIVERS IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCE
The new mower combination combines high output with the best
possible ground tracking and the greatest reliability thanks to intelligent
technology. The NOVACAT V 10000 is available with a headstock for 3.0 or
3.5 metre wide front mowers. This makes working widths of up to 9.62
and 10.02 metres possible. As an option, the NOVACAT V 10000 can be
equipped with the proven COLLECTOR cross conveyor belt and CROSS
FLOW auger for merging swaths.
The NOVACAT V 10000 is a front/rear combination that is exceptionally
adaptable and convenient to operate thanks to an extensive electronics
and hydraulics update: The hydraulic cylinders integrated into the
booms shift the cutter bar by up to 370 mm on each side. As a result,
they ensure optimum overlap and perfect mowing quality on slopes,
when cornering and on flat surfaces. The ground pressure automatically
adapts to the working width. Optimum hydraulic weight alleviation
guarantees soil conservation and the best forage quality. In addition,
wear is significantly reduced and fuel costs are lowered. This automatic
adjustment system is available as an option on the NOVACAT V 10000.
The patented Y DRIVE input gearbox features an output shaft on the
opposite side. This has the advantage that longer standard PTO shafts
can be used with less of an angle in operation. The NOVACAT V 10000
is equipped with the very latest ISOBUS-capable SELECT pre-select
control system as standard. The job computer is located directly on the
machine. An ISOBUS cable or the new SELECT CONTROL terminal can be
connected to the job computer. All functions can be preselected and
then performed using the tractor’s remote valves.
The second control option is the optional ISOBUS-compatible system.
The NOVACAT V 10000 can be controlled either using an ISOBUS tractor
terminal or the new third-generation POWER CONTROL, EXPERT 75,
or the CCI 1200 control terminal. The hydraulic oil supply is via load
sensing. With this control option, all functions such as individual lifting
of the mower units, working width adjustment, side guard folding and
transport interlock are controlled directly, with some integrated into
automatic function sequences.
A new feature is Section Control activation, using the standard job
computer. In combination with AEF TC-SC (Task Controller Section
Control) certified ISOBUS terminals and PÖTTINGER CONNECT, the
individual mower units are automatically raised and lowered at the
headland, depending on the GPS position. Another innovation is the
optional automatic inclination system. On slopes, the mower units are
shifted automatically so that no streaks are left standing even if the
mower combination drifts sideways.
12
Forage_Guide_2023.indd 12 27/03/2023 16:49

MCHALE V6760
The new McHale V6760 has been added to the popular V6 variable
chamber range of machines. According to McHale, in designing the new
McHale V6760, user friendliness was at the forefront of the machine’s
development. The McHale V6760 is the highest spec machine in the
V6 range. This fully automatic machine is ISOBUS compatible with
the option of using McHale’s ISO-PLAY 7 or ISO-PLAY 12 terminals. The
new V6760 features a 5-tine bar cam track pick-up as standard or a
6-tine bar cam-less pick-up with a double crop roller is available as an
optional extra. The pick-up choices on the McHale V6760 have a number
of features which allow for higher intake. The newly designed lateral
feed augers direct the crop into the large diameter rotor which allows
for maximum throughput. The McHale V6760 comes with an Adaptive
Intake which has been specifically designed to allow the intake area to
automatically adjust to changes in material flow. A 540 rpm gearbox is
equipped on the V6760 as standard. To optimise machine performance, a
1000 rpm gearbox is available as an optional extra.
Other new features on the McHale V6760 include: The new Intelli-
Chamber Control increases the opening and closing speed of the
chamber; Electronic variable density pressure regulation, results in
increased bale density; Load cell bale shape indicators fitted on each
door lock measure the bale load on each side, and displays accurate
bale shape feedback to the operator; the McHale V6760 has a hydraulic
bale kicker which lowers or raises as the chamber door opens or closes;
the new net system has a larger brake, allowing for 25 per cent more
stretch which improves performance when baling in high densities;
when connected to an ISOBUS tractor, the V6760 will auto unblock
by lowering the drop floor automatically once the software detects a
blockage; the automatic knife drop feature is available on the McHale
V6760 and can be enabled by the operator using the control terminal in
the cab.
13
MCHALE FUSION 4 RANGE
The new McHale Fusion 4 Range of Integrated Baler Wrappers includes the
McHale Fusion 4, the McHale Fusion 4 Pro and the McHale Fusion 4 Plus
with film binding technology. All machines in the Fusion 4 range deliver a
number of new features with the higher end Fusion 4 Pro and Fusion 4 Plus
being ISOBUS compatible allowing the operator to experience the highest
level of customisation and machine performance. The new Fusion 4 range
introduces advanced pick-up featuring enhanced throughput, increased
bale density and faster wrapping speeds. A focus has also been placed on
operator comfort whilst still ensuring the reliability and heavy-duty build
quality that McHale is renowned for remains.
The new Profi-Flo pick-up has been designed to increase crop intake
through more efficient crop flow and has been engineered to ensure end
users are operating with a high-performance pick-up that is designed to
suit various working conditions. The new tapered feed channel encourages
the crop to flow from the pick-up, towards the rotor and into the bale
chamber, maximising throughput. To reduce maintenance, all Profi-Flo
pick-ups are fitted with a heavier driveline which reduces chain load and
increases chain life. Customers can choose between a 5-tine bar cam track
pick-up or, the optional, 6-tine bar camless pick-up which has increased
in width. Behind the tines, customers will notice a number of changes to
improve the flow of crop into the chamber. McHale have also introduced
the Adaptive Intake which has been specifically designed to allow the
intake area to automatically adjust up and down to changes in material
flow.
Martin McHale - McHale Marketing & Sales Director said: “The new Fusion
4 range has focused on higher output and comfort for the operator. There
is an increase in throughput thanks to the new Profi-Flo pick-up along
with higher bale density and faster wrapping speeds. The design team
have also enhanced the baling experience for the operator using ISOBUS
technology on the Fusion 4 Pro and 4 Plus.”
Forage_Guide_2023.indd 13 27/03/2023 16:49

14
TAMA – TOGETHER WE GROW FOR CHANGE
TAMA group continues to follow its environmental strategy of ‘Reduce – Reuse – Replace’.
Over the years, Tama has already reduced and re-used
waste from its own manufacturing operations, looking
at every stage of plastic production to develop more
sustainable netwrap and twines. Being aware that, for the
foreseeable future, plastic is an essential part of agriculture
and the baling sector in particular, Tama understands that
agricultural plastic waste is a challenge that urgently needs to
be addressed.
Cooperation
Changing to more sustainable manufacturing methods will
protect the land so that future generations of farmers will be
able to continue to grow the food we all depend on.
TAMA implemented a collection and recycling process
in cooperation with Adivalor in France and Healix in the
Netherlands.This starts on the farms with the removal,
shaking (i.e. cleaning) of netwrap and twine and the
subsequent collection via Adivalor. This plastic waste is then
taken to the Healix recycling plant in Maastricht, where the
recyclable material is cleaned and re-processed into high
quality in��nity polymers. These polymers are then repacked
and shipped to Tama’s manufacturing factories and returned to
the ��elds as new crop baling products.
Having been thoroughly tested in markets across the globe
to ensure consistency in strength and quality, TAMA’s latest
high-performance twines now use signi��cant percentages
of recycled content. Commercial Director for Tama Europe
Matthieu Defois stated: “These products are compatible with
all balers and o�fer the same high performance and quality as
our other Tama crop baling products.”
Healix
The founder of Healix, Marcel Alberts, has been active in the
��bre and technical textile industry for almost two decades.
Using his knowledge and expertise, Marcel set up Healix to
be a world leader in the transformation of plastic ��bre waste.
Using new and innovative recycling techniques Marcel has
built a facility that is unparalleled in cleaning and recycling
plastic ��bre waste.
Healix transform used ropes and nets from both the ��shing
and farming industries into virgin-like polymers for the
manufacturing supply chain. The proven techniques, process,
and design of the recycling plant, enable the creation of high-
quality end products. The plastic ��bre waste is processed into
granules in three steps:
1. Big bales of used twine are shipped to the Healix facility
in Maastricht direct from farms across Europe
2. Using specialised machinery, the ��bres are reduced in size
and the small particles are thoroughly washed and dried
to make sure they are clean.
3. Finally, the particles are melted, ��ltered and processed
into granules, which are then shipped to Tama to be
transformed back into new Crop Baling Products.
What this means for Ireland
In Ireland we have probably the best collection scheme in the
world, run by the Irish Farm Film Producers Group (IFFPG).
It provides a cost-e�fective compliance scheme to members and
a comprehensive recycling and collection scheme to farmers
throughout the country.
Farmers bring their waste plastic to one of the hundreds of
collection sites around the country in ½ ton bags ready for
recycling. However, often the returned materials contain far
more than just used plastic: from stones, tools, straw soilage
and moisture, we’ve found it all and it’s all costing you more
money!
By shaking out the soilage and moisture from the waste before
recycling, it can be up to 2/3 lighter which means 2/3 the cost
at the collection centre! Remember, you are charged by the
ton!
In addition, by separating the waste (netwrap separate from
twine), it can be returned to the Healix factory in Holland
where it will be transformed into the raw materials used to
remake netting, twine & stretch��lm. By 2025 Tama aims to
be the world’s most e���cient crop bailing products producer
by returning an average of 65 per cent of used crop baling
products direct to the farm, using an average of 30 per cent
recycled materials in its baling products and signi��cantly
reducing our need for the production of virgin materials.
Our factories already have ZERO waste in the production
process. All waste material is collected and recycled back into
our products. This is just a small part of our drive for a more
sustainable and environmentally friendly business model and
we ask all end-users to join us in keeping agricultural plastic
out of land��ll and protecting the land for generations to come.
ADVERTORIAL
Forage_Guide_2023.indd 14 27/03/2023 16:49

A FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND ECOLOGICAL SOLUTION
FOR CROP BALING PRODUCTS
Recycle
Reuse
Collect
Tama Ireland +353 021 2379222 www.tama-ireland.ie
*Tama Cycle twine contains post-consumer recycled material and Tama Cycle netwrap contains pre-consumer recycled material.
THE FIRST
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Forage_Guide_2023.indd 15 27/03/2023 16:49

The change from a ��at-rate nitrogen
(N) excretion rate for dairy cows,
to a banded system with higher
yielding cows incurring a higher
rate, will mean that milk producers
with highly productive herds will
be forced to reduce stocking rates,
lower average milk yields or secure
additional land to accommodate the
new stocking thresholds.
If anyone was in doubt as to the
impact of complying with these new
environmental impositions, Noreen
Lacey, Head of Banking with Ifac, laid
that doubt to rest when she prefaced her
presentation to the IGA dairy conference
attendees, held earlier this year, by
commenting that it is likely that this
new NAP (Nitrates Action Programme)
will act as a virtual milk quota for dairy
farmers in the future, with a forced
reduction in cow numbers inevitable on
many farms.
More food from less land
Outlining the need for farmers
worldwide to produce 60 per cent more
food by 2060 for an increasing global
population at the same time as land
demand for housing, a�forestation,
energy crops, rewetting as well as
increasing deserti��cation in parts of
the world, is reducing land availability
for food production. Noreen noted that
the challenge becomes even harder
when one considers the process now
being pursued in Ireland and Europe of
lowering inputs, speci��cally N, as well as
cow banding, which essentially lowers
the stocking rate potential on many
farms.
Involuntary cow cull on the cards
Noreen con��rmed that Ireland must
reduce agricultural emissions by between
��ve and seven million tonnes of carbon
dioxide equivalent by 2030. The new
NAP Programme, introduced this year,
will change the organic N levels deemed
to be produced per cow, with a new
banding limit brought into e�fect for all
herds.
Combined, as the Ifac Executive
emphasised, with the upcoming
review of Ireland’s current nitrates
derogation regulations, these are set
to act as a signi��cant restraint to dairy
expansion and per cow and per ha milk
production for a large section of Irish
milk producers. Noreen gave a range
of practical examples of how these
seismic changes will impact on farmers
depending on their individual herd and
farm pro��les.
As a generalisation, she concluded,
the new NAP will increase the deemed
organic N excretion rates produced per
cow based on milk yield and will move
about 17 per cent of herds from 89 kgs of
organic N excreted per cow to the high
band of 106 kgs per cow, forcing some
dairy farmers to involuntarily reduce
their stocking rate.
Land rental prices run amok
The arguments for the introduction
of this banding system are clear.
The Agriculture Minister, Charlie
McConalogue, has stated that it is a
necessary aspect of securing a new
Nitrates derogation at EU level as well as
being a part of Ireland’s Nitrates Action
Programme. There are now only a few
countries and regions within the EU
utilising the derogation and it is essential
that Ireland continues to bene��t in the
coming years.
Even with the introduction of the
banding system, essentially lowering
stocking rates on farms with higher
yielding herds, there is no assurance
that Irish milk producers will not have
to manage lower nitrates limits per ha in
MORE INTENSIVE N REGULATIONS
PENALISES PRODUCTIVITY
Matt O’Keeffe reports on some key points made recently by Noreen Lacey, Head of Banking at Ifac, about the impact of new
environmental measures on dairy farming systems.
16
Forage_Guide_2023.indd 16 27/03/2023 16:49

the coming years.
Unintentional consequences already
include a rapid increase in land rental
prices across the country and especially
in the most intensively stocked south-
eastern and southern regions of the
country. Additional high-cost land rental
drives up production costs signi��cantly
and, if production is static, the end result
is a fall in net income.
The increased demand for land to lease,
apart from driving up prices, is also
driving out previous lessees, unable
to compete at current prices. Add in
rewetting and forestry targets and
there will be less land available for food
production in the years ahead.
There is another law of unintended
consequences as milk producers
especially, attempt to maintain
production by purchasing additional
forage and/or concentrates to make
up for shortfalls in grazing availability
without lowering stocking rates. Instead
of opting for fewer cows, many farmers
caught in the lower end of a band may
decide to drive production on through
these mechanisms. Whether this will
deliver increased pro��tability is another
matter entirely.
Options for 2023
There are several banding options
available for 2023, though the restrictions
are likely to be more onerous in coming
years. Operating on an understanding
that higher yields equate to higher
nutrient excretion rates, the banding
mechanism attempts to re��ect this. A
rolling average for the three years 2020,
2021 and 2022 is being accepted this
year in calculating a herd’s banding.
Otherwise, last year’s (2022) average
yield can be used. The third option is to
rely on average yield for the current year.
That option will only be available for
2023, so restricting yield for this season is
only a stop-gap measure, with potentially
signi��cant long-term implications for
herd health, fertility and output as well
as ��nancial returns for the current year.
Potential income collapse
Referencing the pending Nitrates
Derogation Review, Noreen Lacey sees
the possibility of the maximum 250kg/
Ha organic N limit being reduced to
220kg. In that scenario she calculated
that a forty-hectare farm with one
hundred and twelve cows could face a
herd reduction of twenty-nine cows if
the herd is in the highest yield 106 kg N/
Cow band.
The IFAC Executive then did some
number crunching to con��rm the
��nancial impacts of either, or both,
cow banding and a lowering of the
derogation. Cow banding for the high
yielding herd example will reduce
income by a potential 33 per cent, she
calculates. Add on a Nitrates derogation
reduction to 220kg and Noreen foresees
a farm income collapse of 53 per cent
based on the farm only being able to
carry eighty-three cows when hit with a
double whammy.
Noreen identi��es mitigation strategies
include renting additional land to
o�fset lower stocking rates. Cost and
availability, she notes, are problematic,
to say the least. Reducing milk supply/
yield, to ��t into a lower cow band, was
also discussed, noting that this could be
hazardous from an animal health and
welfare stance but would o�fer some
lessening of the doomsday income
collapse.
A new quota system
The biggest impacts will be felt by
the higher yielding herds. As Noreen
hinted, there is potential for the
regulatory system to impact far more
milk producers severely in the time
ahead. Even another potential banding
above 6,500 kgs per cow would have
catastrophic e�fects on those herds
above that ��gure. Meanwhile her
advice to milk producers was timely:
“Everyone’s circumstances are unique
and there is an onus on producers to
review their individual situations and
put an appropriate plan in place that
achieves the ��nancial and environmental
objectives of the business.”
17
Forage_Guide_2023.indd 17 27/03/2023 16:49

18
MAKING BETTER QUALITY AND
MORE COST-EFFECTIVE BALED
SILAGE
Lloyd Dawson, of Berry bpi, outlines the advantages of an innovative new dual wrapping method.
Due to signi��cantly higher fertiliser
prices, many farmers are now
conserving less silage for their
livestock. This means that they are now
more dependent on compound feed
which has also increased signi��cantly
in price due to the war in the Ukraine.
In addition, numbers of dairy cows,
cattle and sheep in Ireland have also
increased, so there are more livestock
to feed.
For example, in the June 2022 CSO
livestock survey the number of dairy
cows increased by 1.4 per cent; the
total number of cattle aged two years
and over increased by 2.4 per cent, and
sheep numbers increased by 6.4 per
cent.
However, due to ongoing technology
improvements, the baled silage
system is far more cost e�fective and
environmentally friendly. Silage quality
is better and there are more kilograms
of dry matter (DM) available per bale
for feeding to valuable livestock. The
relatively new Film&Film (F&F) system
is an innovative dual wrapping method,
which combines the use of SilotitePro
balewrap and Baletite netwrap
replacement ��lm.
This results in better shaped and
more compact bales which can better
withstand handling and have a longer
storage life. Using baler ��lm instead
of netwrap, the F&F wrapping system
helps to reduce silage losses by
virtually eliminating mould growth and
preventing silage becoming enmeshed
during feedout.
By using ��lm to bind the bale together,
removal and recycling of the ��lm
is made easier as the farmer is only
left with one product to recycle and
can avoid the time-consuming job of
separating netwrap from the stretch
��lm.
Baletite enhances the ensiling process
and protects the contents of the bale by
Forage_Guide_2023.indd 18 27/03/2023 16:49

19
creating additional layers of protection
around the bale. It provides an air
barrier that helps to prevent the growth
of white mould, which can cause
valuable silage losses. Using Baletite
as an alternative to netwrap results in
better shaped bales, by exerting a tighter
grip around the bale circumference.
Excellent trial results have been
obtained in Wales by Dr Dave Davies
of Silage Solutions Ltd, who acts as an
independent consultant to the Silage
Advisory Centres. Dr Davies is a former
Senior Research Scientist at the Institute
of Grassland and Environmental
Research (IGER) at Aberystwyth in
Wales.
In a trial he conducted on a commercial
farm in Wales, under real working farm
conditions, Dr Davies demonstrated that
Film&Film wrapped bales had:
- 7.5 per cent less dry matter (DM)
losses compared to netwrap bales
due to an enhanced fermentation
process.
- 80 per cent less DM losses compared
to netwrap bales due to mould
formation on the bale.
The reduced losses that resulted using
the F&F wrapping system meant that
the farmer gained more forage to feed to
his herd. For a dairy farmer, preserving
forage more successfully could provide a
signi��cant ��nancial bene��t as follows:
• This farmer gained an average
of 7.35kg DM per bale using the
Film&Film wrapping system.
• As 1kg of DM = 11.8 MJ ME
(Metabolisable Energy), this means
that the farmer gained 86.73 MJ ME
per Film&Film bale (7.35 kg DM x
11.8 MJ ME).
• To produce one litre of milk you
need: ± 5.8MJ/litre MJ ME.
• Therefore the 86.73MJ ME averagely
gained for each of these bales could
give an additional 15 litres of milk
production.
• For a cattle farmer this was
equivalent to an increase of 1.9kg of
live weight gain per bale.
• The value of the extra silage
conserved is around €5/bale. This
calculation is based on data supplied
in December 2022 by Dr Tom Butler
of FBA Laboratories.
It is important to note that the above
trial was undertaken under commercial
farm conditions and not on a research
institution farm where bales are
carefully handled and stored under ideal
conditions by well-trained research
sta�f.
Bales wrapped using this system also
have a longer storage life, are easier to
handle or stack, and are more valuable
to farmers buying extra forage for
their livestock. The high holding force
of Baletite in this wrapping system
maintains the pressure that has been
applied during baling.
Indeed, trials undertaken by the
Institute for Research in Agriculture
(ILVO) in Belgium found that bales
wrapped using the Film&Film System
on average contained 10 per cent more
silage, and these bales were on average
2cm smaller in circumference than
traditional netted bales.
The cost of baling and wrapping with
four layers of wrap in Ireland was
circa €12 per bale in 2022, and agri
contractors charge an additional €1 for
using a netwrap replacement ��lm. So
the extra feed value not only covers this
but it also pays for more than a third of
the total cost. A very good reason indeed
to switch from netwrap to the F&F
wrapping system.
This F&F system is also recommended
by the Kuhn winner of ‘Machine of
the Year’ in the AgriTechnica forage
harvesting category in 2018, and a
LAMMA Silver Award winner in 2019.
Check out their videos on YouTube.
A typical contractor comment is as
follows: “The ��lm and ��lm bales keep
their shape better in storage and are less
prone to damage. A lot of my customers
are using bale splitters so this makes life
a lot easier as no separation of balewrap
and netting is needed. On top of this,
farmers are ��nding that silage quality is
better and there is virtually no mouldy
silage. So there are lots of advantages
indeed.”
Improved Baling and Wrapping
Technology
Information such as customer name,
number of bales, average bale weight
and moisture content can be printed out
by some of the modern balewrappers.
This information is very useful for
any farmers feeding the bales to their
livestock or negotiating bale prices with
other farmers.
Nowadays, most bales are chopped and
these are eight to 12 per cent heavier
than conventional round bales, which
saves on stretch ��lm, takes up less
storage space and are easier to feed out.
When crop is chopped, it results in more
material compressed in the bale. This
leads to a reduction in transport and
��lm costs per kg of silage wrapped.
Chopping the forage allows for
optimum fermentation as the sugars
in the crop will be readily available
from the dry crop. This results in the
production of superior quality fodder
that can be easily digested. Chopped
forage is easier to distribute from
diet feeders and straw blowers as the
Forage_Guide_2023.indd 19 27/03/2023 16:49

20
short material can be processed and
distributed more quickly than longer
material.
Although the optimum percentage dry
matter for bales may vary for dairy,
beef and sheep, avoiding over-wilting
is important for any livestock in order
to optimise nutrient value. A notable
di�ference in Ireland, is that bales are
usually made at 25-35 per cent dry
matter, rather than the usual 35-45 per
cent DM or higher as typical of bales
in Britain. This makes them heavier,
weighing about 850-900kg compared
with 600-650 kg, but cuts wilting time.
This also reduces in-��eld nutrient
losses and is a boon during changeable
weather.
Baling at 25-35 per cent DM provides
an opportunity to improve the
fermentation for a better preservation
and makes them less susceptible to
heating and spoilage problems that
a�fect drier silage.
Many independent research trials show
that using a proven silage additive can
result in more silage recovered from
the grass that was baled or clamped.
For farmers aiming to make high-
quality silage, the inclusion of a quality
additive can signi��cantly improve silage
fermentation and quality.
This is important as increasing silage
quality will lead to a higher level of
production on beef, dairy and sheep
farms. For example, based on trial
results, one proven additive had the
following bene��ts:
• Metabolisable Energy (ME)
increased by an average of 0.7MJ/kg
of dry matter.
• Silage digestibility improved by an
average of 3 D units.
• DM intakes increased by ��ve per cent
on average.
Given the increase in energy content,
digestibility and DM intakes, the use of
additive treated silages obviously leads
to an increase in animal performance
as measured by higher milk yield (an
average of 1.2 Litres/cow/day in 15
various trials.) or better liveweight gain
(19 per cent higher). Based on research
trial results you can triple your return
on investment from using a silage
additive.
Excellent Recycling Results
When baled silage was ��rst introduced,
bales were around 50 per cent of the
current weights and ��lm was only
stretched 55 per cent. Now it is stretched
70 per cent, so less balewrap is now
used per kilogram of grass wrapped and
there is also less ��lm to recycle after use.
The ��ve key elements for a good
performing silage stretch ��lm are:
cling capacity; puncture resistance;
tear resistance; elongation at break;
and tightening force. Silotite Pro 1800
also bene��ts from an enhanced oxygen
barrier – critical to ensuring excellent
crop conservation.
Bene��ts include 20 per cent more bales
wrapped per reel, signi��cant time
savings for the busy silage contractor,
and enhanced silage quality for
livestock. Its unique sleeve packaging
means that it has 45kg less packaging/
pallet, with no bulky boxes to move
around. The packaging is made of the
same material as the ��lm inside, so
it can all be recycled together. Both
Baletite and balewrap can be recycled
together, saving valuable time and
labour costs, unlike netwrap which has
to be recycled separately.
The Silotite range of stretch ��lms now
includes Silotite Sustane, which uses 30
per cent recycled materials: a mixture
of mechanically or advanced recycled
materials from industrial, agricultural
and consumer ��lms that have been
recycled. Silotite Sustane can also
be recycled again, meaning that the
contribution to sustainability goes even
further, to create even more recycled
products.
The Irish Farm Film Producers’ Group
(IFFPG), a not-for-pro��t body, has
recycled over 400,000 tonnes of farm
��lm waste since its establishment in
1998. The scheme, which is funded by
both industry and farmers and approved
by the Department of the Environment,
Climate and Communications, is an
excellent example of what can be
achieved when all the key stakeholders
in a sector come together to work for the
environment.
Irish farmers achieved a record 90 per
cent recycling rate for farm ��lms in 2021
and in doing so recycled the equivalent
of ��lm from 18 million silage bales. The
majority was collected at over 200 bring-
centres, held during the summer at
locations such as livestock marts, coops
and agri-merchant premises. Over a
third of collected material was supplied
to Irish recyclers for processing into a
range of new products.
In total, 37,000 tonnes of silage wrap
and silage covers was recycled in 2021:
3,000 tonnes more than in 2020 which
was also a record year. For the average
farmer who makes 300 bales of silage,
the total recycling cost is approximately
€60, while the average distance to the
local bring centre is only 11km. These
factors, as well as a desire by farmers to
be environmentally responsible, have
resulted in the recycling rate for farm
��lms being consistently the highest for
any recycling stream in the country.
Berry bpi, manufacturers of Baletite
and Silotite, is a leading recycler of bale
wrap products and other packaging in
Europe, with the scope and expertise
to recycle over 150,000 tonnes a year.
Every tonne of polythene recycled
saves 1.8 tonnes of crude oil, reduces
energy usage by two thirds, entails 90
per cent less water and cuts sulphur
dioxide emissions by 33 per cent. Useful
products manufactured from recycled
balewrap and silage covers include calf
pens, fencing posts, ��oor slats, garden
furniture, gates, pet housing, rubbish
bags and water piping.
A
n
✓S
✓I
✓R
✓A
t: 0
e:
w:
Forage_Guide_2023.indd 20 27/03/2023 16:49

Add Molasses for a
natural preservation
✓Stimulates fermentation and facilitates natural silage preservation
✓Improves dry matter digestibility (DMD) and silage intakes
✓Reduces spoilage and increases clamp storage capacity
✓A rich source of natural sugar and energy
t: 069-65311 Harbour Road,
e: info@premiermolasses.ie Foynes,
w: www.premiermolasses.ie Co. Limerick.
Forage_Guide_2023.indd 21 27/03/2023 16:49

22
MANAGING YOUNG STOCK AT GRASS
The weaning to breeding period for dairy heifers is vital to improving lifetime herd performance and profitability, according
to Dr Debbie McConnell, Dairy Technical Representative for Lakeland Agri.
Replacement dairy heifers are the
lifeblood of any dairy farm and
countless research studies have
shown that by improving heifer
management and calving animals
at 24 months of age, lifetime herd
performance and pro��tability can
be increased. For example, data from
herds in Northern Ireland shows that on
average, animals calving at 24 months
of age will give one extra lactation and
an additional 7,300kg milk over their
lifetime, relative to an animal calving at
36 months of age.
Considerable emphasis is placed on
early life management and pre-weaning
nutrition for replacement dairy heifers
as this is the time when the highest level
of feed conversion e���ciency can be
achieved. However, the period following
this, from weaning to breeding, also
deserves focus as it plays a crucial role
in ensuring animals reach puberty and
subsequently can be successfully bred at
15 months of age, and calf down at 24
months.
This period has a strong in��uence on
skeletal growth, with poor nutrition
here leading to short and small framed
animals. In addition, puberty is mainly
driven by bodyweight rather than age
meaning that insu���cient nutrition
can delay breeding of heifers. To allow
animals to calf down at 24 months of
age, achieving target liveweight gains
right throughout the growing period is
key. Target liveweight at key stages and
average daily liveweight gain (DLWG)
will be dependent on the mature weight
of the cow (see Table 1).
Grazing the weaned dairy
replacement
Appropriate post-weaning nutrition
relies on supplying su���cient protein
to facilitate muscle weight gain
and skeletal growth. Good skeletal
development at this stage will result
in taller heifers that experience fewer
calving di���culties. Grazed grass can
provide a high protein and low fat diet,
which is well tailored to the nutritional
requirements of youngstock, however
it must be carefully supplemented in
the ��rst few months to ensure animals
achieve su���cient intakes.
Immediately post weaning, the animal’s
rumen is still in development and not
able to process forages fully. Indeed,
the rumen typically doesn’t reach
full functionality until around nine
months of age so during the animal’s
��rst summer at pasture, concentrate
provision is often required in the early
months to ensure liveweight gains are
met.
In the immediate post-weaning stage
(two to three months of age) the
rumen also has a limited capacity
and so providing an energy-dense,
high-protein diet is critical. At this
stage, supplementation rates of
2kg concentrate can be required
dependent on grass quality. To
transition weaned young calves onto
pasture, using a paddock of stemmier,
coarser grass initially or providing
some supplementary forage can help
maintain ��bre levels in the diet. This is
important as it can take a few weeks for
the rumen microbes to adjust to fresh
grass, particularly when grazing highly
digestible, low ��bre pastures.
Once animals are well transitioned
to grass, aiming for covers of 1,000-
1,400kg/ha with fresh grass o�fered
every few days is optimal. Calves
Table 1: Liveweight targets for dairy heifer replacements at di�ferent ages depending
on mature bodyweight.
Age Mature bodyweight (kg)
550 650
8 weeks (weaning) 80 90
6 months 150 175
12 months 275 325
15 months (mating) 330 390
24 months (pre-calving) 495 585
Average DLWG required
from birth to calving (kg/d)
0.7 0.75
Forage_Guide_2023.indd 22 27/03/2023 16:49

23
are selective grazers and
supplying fresh grass often
will ensure liveweights are
maintained. In a recent
study conducted by the
Agri-Food and Biosciences
Institute (AFBI) which ran
between June and October,
heifers aged three to seven
months were allocated to
either:
1) a continual grazing
system, in which animals
remained for the duration of
the grazing season;
(2) a six-day rotation
system in which animals
were rotated through six
paddocks every six days;
and (3) a three-day rotation
system, in which animals
were rotated through 12
di�ferent paddocks every
three days. Target pre- and
post-grazing sward heights
were set at 1,000 and 100 kg
DM/ha, respectively.
Heifers managed in the
continuous grazing system
gained 0.64 kg/day whilst
rotationally grazed heifers
achieved an extra 0.04 –
0.16 kg/day. This highlights
the bene��ts of a rotational
grazing system, however
it must be remembered
that young animals should
always be o�fered clean,
high quality grass. If grazing
in the same area as older
animals, implement a
leader-follower rotational
system where young animals
are allowed onto a paddock
before the older animals
as this will allow them
to get the best grass and
help minimise the risk of
picking up gastrointestinal
parasites. It is also important
to consider trace element
status of animals at grass, so
work with your veterinary
surgeon to determine if
supplementation is required.
As animals progress,
aim for total intakes of
approximately 2.4 per cent
of body weight in dry matter
(4.8 kg DM/head/day for 200
kg heifers). A recent AFBI
study of heifers managed in
a rotational grazing system
and allocated to pasture
allowances of either 1.8
per cent, 2.4 per cent or
3 per cent of bodyweight
showed that grass utilisation
decreased as pasture
allowance increased and
live weight gain increased.
The study indicated that
o�fering pasture at a rate of
2.4 per cent of live weight
helps achieve a good balance
between heifer performance
and grass utilisation.
To keep animals on target
over the summer months,
weighing animals at
turnout and regularly
(every two to four weeks)
will allow adjustments to
be made if animals are
underperforming. Where
animals are behind target
liveweights, consider
batching separately to
allow for higher feed
rates to increase daily
liveweight gain. It is also
important to take account
of weather conditions at
pasture and o�fer additional
feed in wetter and cooler
conditions.
Forage_Guide_2023.indd 23 27/03/2023 16:49

24
SILAGE HARVESTING IN IRELAND
Are we getting better or just getting faster, asks Dr Joe Patton, Head of Dairy Knowledge Transfer at Teagasc.
In recent years, vintage silage making
displays have become a ��xture on
the summer agri-events calendar in
many parts of the country. On these
days, young and old gather to watch
single-chop and double-chop harvesters,
and all manner of early self-propelled
machines, put through their paces
in heavy June meadows. Veterans
of silage seasons past nostalgically
marvel over familiar machines, while
the younger minds must wonder how
such contraptions got the silage season
��nished at all.
Seeing the old silage kit at work
demonstrates the signi��cant pace
of development in ��eld technology
over the last few decades. It is also
important however to gauge what this
has delivered in terms of improved
feed quality on the ground. A quick
look at the numbers (Table 1) suggests
that despite all the improvements in
equipment, national average silage
quality remains stubbornly in the lower
ranges.
For example, dry matter digestibility
(DMD), which determines the intake,
weight gain and milk yield potential
of the crop, has not really moved in 40
years or more. National average quality
silage of 63-65% DMD is suitable only
for suckler cows requiring weight
loss in the winter period. It will not
repair body condition score (BCS) on
dry dairy cows, it will not put weight
on weanlings, and will certainly not
��nish cattle or put milk in the tank.
The conclusion could reasonably be
made that as an industry we have just
got faster at making bad silage, but not
better at making good silage.
With all that said, there are many
excellent beef and dairy farms that
year-after-year make high yields of
good quality grass silage at ��rst and
subsequent cuts. This drives down feed
costs and boosts animal performance in
weanlings, ��nishing cattle and milking
cows. These farms have a proven
formula, based on good science, good
timing, and attention to detail. So what
are the main things which make these
farms di�ferent to the average?
DM % pH DMD % Cr Pro %
1970-81 (Wheeler et al., 1983) 21.7 4.3 63 12.7
1985-88 (Wilson et al., 1990) 19.7 4.1 65 14.9
1990-92 (Keating et al., 1993) 22.1 4.1 67 15.3
1993-96 (Keating et al., 1997) 22.4 4.1 67 14.3
2012-14 (McElhinney et al., 2016) 27.0 4.2 61 12.3
Table 1. National average grass silage quality from mid 1970s until 2014 (Source Teagasc
Grange)
Di�ferent times, same result: Silage quality has largely remained unchanged over decades in Ireland.
Beef Cattle - Weight gain
Silage Quality
DMD% 75 70 65 60
Harvest date 20 May 2 Jun 15 Jun 28 Jun
Silage tDM per ha 4.6 6.0 7.0 7.7
Intake (kg/day) 9.0 8.3 7.6 7.0
Liveweight gain (kg/day) 0.83 0.66 0.49 0.31
Table 2. E�fect of silage harvest date on quality and animal performance
Forage_Guide_2023.indd 24 27/03/2023 16:49

25
Understanding the meaning and value
of feed quality
Setting out with the objective of making
quality feed is probably the most
important factor, as every management
decision can ��t into place after that.
The importance of having quality silage
has been demonstrated in countless
experiments and real farm situations.
Table 2, for example, shows the e�fect of
higher DMD on growth rate in weanling
Angus/Hereford cattle. The di�ference
in growth rate from 20th May to 15th
June silage would total over 45kg per
head in a standard four-month winter,
and making up that di�ference with
concentrate for growing or ��nishing
cattle would be expensive indeed. The
requirement for high DMD with regard
to milking is self-evident.
Knowing that delaying harvest
will spoil a good silage crop
Grass silage is like a perishable food
in terms of quality. Every day past
heading date can reduce DMD by up
to 0.5 units, so 10 days’ delay from
late May into early June can turn your
main winter forage from high quality
to maintenance-only feed. Di�ferent
types of stock do require di�ferent levels
of silage quality within a system – for
example dry beef cows 66 to 68 DMD for
example but growing cattle 72+ DMD –
so the problem is often that one single
date does not suit all stock on the farm
(Figure 1). The best operators tend to
focus on securing the best silage needed
��rst. They are generally ready to harvest
for quality silage quality in mid-May,
and plan for some lower quality material
if needed taken later in June or as part of
a second cut. This can easily be done in
a baling system or using pits plus bales
combined. ‘One big cut’ for convenience
will not deliver the right quality.
Getting the balance right
between yield and quality
Crop DM yield at harvest remains
the single most important factor
determining the cost per tonne of silage
in the pit. The target yield for a mid-
late May cut is 5 to 5.5 tonnes DM per
hectare (9.2 to 10 tonnes per acre fresh).
Fixed costs per hectare (e.g. contractor
fees) are diluted to some extent by the
extra tonnage, and so too are some costs
associated with fertiliser and slurry.
The drive to secure adequate stocks
for winter has meant many farms have
largely abandoned any consideration
of feed quality when making ��rst cut
silage. Later bulky cuts have become the
norm.
But does this approach actually work?
Firstly, the dilution of contractor fees
is surprisingly small. A 10-day delay
into June (assuming 80kg DM growth)
will reduce contractor cost by about
€1.55 per tonne fresh silage. Would
you pay €1.55 more per tonne for 74
DMD versus 69 DMD silage? Based
on di�ferences in cattle performance
it is more than justi��ed. If it’s a bale
system in operation, the cost per tonne
di�ference is even less. Secondly, it is
vital to consider the yield of forage DM
across the year as a whole, not just from
Silage DMD
Suitable For Fresh calved dairys cows in winter milk
Buffer feeding milking cows early spring/late autumn
Finishing cattle
76+% 71-73% 68-70% <67%
74-76%
Dry cows requiring BCS gain-2.75
at dry off
Dairy weanling/In-calf heifers
Growing cattle
Dry dairy cows requiring little or no
BCS gain
Dry suckler cows requiring BCS gain
Poor quality feed
Dry dairy cows - meal feeding required
to gain BCS
Dry suckler cows requiring no BCS
gain
Figure 1. Target grass maturity at ��rst cut for di�ferent stock types
12000
10000
8000
6000
4000
2000
0
9000
8000
7000
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
Total
DM
yield
kg/ha
Total
UFL
per
ha
May 29th
May 29th
Jun 29th
Jun 29th
Jun 23rd
Jun 23rd
2nd cut
1st cut
2nd cut
1st cut
Figure 2. E�fect of ��rst cut date on total silage DM and UFL (feed energy) yield in a
two-cut system
Forage_Guide_2023.indd 25 27/03/2023 16:49

26
a single cut. Figure 2 shows the e�fect of di�ferent ��rst-cut
dates on total grass silage DM and forage energy (UFL) yield
per ha, in a two-cut system with a ��xed second cut date in
late July. There was no advantage in total DM production to
delaying ��rst cut due to poor yield at second harvest. Delaying
second cut further for the later ��rst cut swards would have
reduced availability of autumn after-grass and negated any
silage yield bene��t.
It has been clear from recent fodder crises that farms that fail
to cut ��rst cut by early June at the latest were more likely to
run short of silage in a bad year due to poor annual yields and
problems salvaging second cut crops later in the year. Those
farms routinely producing high quality silage are usually less
likely to run short despite earlier ��rst cuts – silage yields are
maximised by increasing growth rate in spring (through better
management), not by simply delaying ��rst cut harvest.
Managing soil fertility and fertiliser as year-round
project
Grass silage removes a lot of NPK nutrient from the ��eld
without any slurry recycling as in a grazing situation.
The fertiliser requirements for grass silage crops are well
established and widely available (Table 3). Getting these
correct will ensure that high yields of ��rst and subsequent
crops are ready to cut before quality declines. We often see
in practice that crops are not ready to cut by mid to late May,
despite being closed since early March, leaving farmers with
the decision to ‘give it a week to bulk up’ to the detriment
of quality and second cut yield. This is a good indicator
of inadequate crop nutrition, as clean ryegrass crops with
adequate nutrients applied should be well ready to cut by mid
to late May in a normal year.
Farms producing high quality silage recognise the value of
meeting the crops’ nutrient needs. This is treated as a year-
round process, involving soil testing, targeted use of slurry,
build-up of P and K through the year, and liming at the correct
time. The one-size ��ts all approach of spreading some slurry
plus three bags of ‘silage-cut’ type products performs poorly
in comparison to a fertiliser plan designed to meet the NPK
requirement on a ��eld-by-��eld basis.
Not assuming nitrogen is too high to cut
A common reason for putting o�f cutting silage is concern
about nitrogen. A useful guide for fertiliser N is that grass uses
2.5 kg N (2.0 units) per day on average, so ��nal N should be
applied approximately 50 days before planned cutting date.
However, this should not be used to decide cutting date. If
weather conditions are suitable for cutting, test the grass crop
for sugars rather than sticking rigidly to the ‘2-unit rule’; the
crop can be safely harvested sooner depending on conditions.
Keeping the sward fresh
Old permanent pasture with low perennial ryegrass content is
less responsive to fertiliser nutrients for ��rst-cut crops, leading
to delayed harvest and poor DMD. Lower sugar content makes
preservation more di���cult. The decision to reseed should
be based on sward composition and performance. A rule of
thumb is that silage ground should be reseeded every seven to
eight years (��ve to six years for multiple-cut systems). This can
be di���cult especially if silage ground is on short-term rental
contracts.
In conclusion
Silage making technology has come a long way but the
fundamentals of good swards, good soil fertility and cutting
at the right growth stage have remained constant over time.
There is much work to do to improve feed quality by looking
again at these basic principles. There are enough good
examples on working farms to see the bene��ts of excellent
sward management.
Soil index 1 2 3 4
P Required kg/ha 40 30 20 0
K Required kg/ha 175 155 20 0
N Required kg/ha 125
Sulpher Required kg/ha 12-14 (10% of N applied)
Table 3. NPK required for ��rst cut crops at di�ferent soil indices.
*Note a maximum of 100kg per ha K should be applied at ��rst cut with the
remainder applied in autumn on low index ground. Apply 10kg per ha of
sulphur for ��rst cut where forage analysis shows a requirement.
Forage_Guide_2023.indd 26 27/03/2023 16:49

27
“Butterfat levels fall in the grazing
season every year and this spring
and summer won’t be any di�ferent,”
says Dr Philip Ingram. “We can see
levels drop by as much as 0.5 per cent
and continue below the herd’s potential
through summer. This will mean a
signi��cant price drop on many milk
prices and isn’t good news, particularly
with concentrate feed prices still riding
high, and milk prices easing.
“But there are solutions that can keep
butterfat, and the milk cheque, on
track.” He highlights new results that
support the use of a specialised rumen
bu�fer Equaliser Cream, that is already
being used successfully on many units.
Cargill monitored the e�fect of this
rumen bu�fer on 25 Irish and British
dairy farms in 2021 and 2022. Thirteen
farms introduced Equaliser Cream early,
before the usual dip in butterfat, and 12
farms introduced it after experiencing
low butterfat. Rates used were between
75g and 150g per cow per day, and the
proportion of grazed grass in the diet
ranged from 0 per cent to 75 per cent.
Those farms introducing the bu�fer
early responded best with an average
improvement in butterfat of 0.4% in
May, compared with the same month
in the previous year, shown in Figure 1.
This e�fect persisted through the grazing
season and herds continued to give
more butterfat while Equaliser Cream
was in the diet.
The 12 farms feeding the bu�fer after
milk fats dropped saw an improvement
within a week of 0.33 per cent, with an
average increase in one month of 0.51
per cent. Based on milk prices at the
time of this trial, using Equaliser Cream
improved milk income by €2,422 per
month for an average 100-cow herd.
GRAZING THE GREEN STUFF:
A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD
Cows out at grass is a welcome sight on many dairy farms, but, when it comes to
maintaining milk quality, it might not all be plain sailing, says Dr Philip Ingram,
Ruminant Technical Manager at Cargill.
Dr Philip Ingram, Cargill ruminant
technical manager.
Forage_Guide_2023.indd 27 27/03/2023 16:49

28
Milk value per cow, per day improved
by 80c.
“These results showed the positive
bene��ts of including Equaliser Cream –
either in the bu�fer feed or concentrate,
in spring and summer while cows are
on fresh grass,” says Dr Ingram. “And
if it can be added ahead of a dip in
butterfat levels, there are even greater
bene��ts. But in both cases, the response
is quick and prolonged throughout
the season, providing a cost-e�fective
solution to depressed summer butterfat
levels.”
Prevention versus cure
There are two main factors responsible
for this fall in butterfat in milk,
associated with fresh grass. These are
its high oil content, particularly in
young grass in the ��rst and second leaf
stages, and the low structural, highly
digestible ��bre in fresh grass that causes
a reduction in rumen pH and creates
acidic conditions.
The combination creates a ‘perfect
storm’ in the cow’s rumen. Under these
conditions, dietary oil is converted to
conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). This is
an oil that disrupts the fat production
pathways and causes a depression in
butterfat.
“Equaliser Cream has a two-pronged
action,” says Dr Ingram. “It is highly
e�fective as a bu�fer in maintaining
rumen pH and supports the reduction
of CLA production by normalising
the oil conversion pathways. It works
by preventing rather than curing the
problem in the cow. Most bu�fers tackle
rumen pH as a means of helping to
prevent milk fat depression, but they are
not consistently e�fective.”
It is also useful to understand the stages
of grass growth when oil levels are
highest and manage the grazing around
this. “Grazing management should
support rather than hinder butterfat
production. Lush, green grass will
have the highest oil content,” he adds.
“And the higher the leaf-to-stem ratio,
the higher the oil content of the grass,
so grazing management needs to be
mindful of this.
“Also, swards with low covers, that
might follow a cold snap or a drought,
will be ‘oil-rich’ too. Predicting grass
growth patterns and measuring growth
will help to avoid needing to graze
these swards. Instead, if grass growth
is looking short, increase the platform
if possible or add more compound or
bu�fer feed to ��ll the gap.”
The timing of fertiliser applications is
also crucial. It should be applied as soon
as cows leave the sward to maximise
the time between spreading and cows
returning to graze. This is because
nitrogen promotes leaf growth and,
therefore, fatty acid content. There
needs to be time for the balance of oil in
the grass to return to near normal before
cows are back grazing.
Every grazing season varies, and grass
growth slows down and speeds up
depending on temperature and rainfall,
but the risks will be there. Improving
the rumen environment will support
butterfat production, and with some
forward planning, farmers can manage
grazing to avoid the high oil ‘hotspots’,
says Dr Ingram. “A boost to the milk
cheque through the summer months
could then be on the cards.”
4.40%
4.20%
4.00%
3.80%
3.60%
3.40%
3.20%
3.00%
Equaliser Cream - year on year response
Previous year - no cream
Average
Farm
13
Farm
13
Farm
11
Farm
10
Farm
9
Farm
8
Farm
7
Farm
6
Farm
5
Farm
4
Farm
3
Farm
2
Farm
1
Average - no cream
Current year - cream
Average - cream
Figure 1: Response from including Equaliser Cream (Cargill Ireland and UK)
Spring summer grazing can depress
milkfat signi��cantly.
Forage_Guide_2023.indd 28 27/03/2023 16:49

29
RENEWABLE ENERGY: WHAT’S IN IT
FOR FARMERS?
Barry Caslin, Teagasc Energy & Rural Development Specialist, investigates the opportunities that renewable energy for
today’s farmer.
Renewables need land and lots of
it. We have no clear vision or strategy
as to how much of the 4.9m ha of
Agricultural Area Used (AAU) land will
be diverted towards wind, solar, grass
for biogas and energy crop or forestry
pulpwood for biomass heating projects.
The publication of the Governments
Climate Action Plan has been positive
towards on-farm renewables.
Opportunities will exist for farmers
to generate renewable electricity
and sell the excess to the grid. The
Government has also acknowledged
the need to develop an agri biomethane
sector to displace natural gas in the
heat and transport sectors. Renewable
energy options have been o�fering
many bene��ts for farm businesses
across Europe for decades. An energy
diversi��cation enterprise can be used on
farm to reduce electricity and heating
bills, with any excess electricity or heat
sold to generate an additional income.
On-farm renewables can help to
reduce the overall farm greenhouse gas
emissions, or carbon footprint. There
are a number of renewable options
available which o�fer opportunities to
utilise natural resources within the farm
– from forestry to slurry, and rivers to
wind.
Technologies Suited to Farms
The renewable energy technologies
which o�fer the best diversi��cation
opportunities for
farms are:
• Wind energy
• Hydropower
• Anaerobic digestion/biogas
• Biomass
• Solar photovoltaic
• Heat pumps
The uptake of these varying
technologies will depend on access to
capital for investment. The on-farm
resources available and the amount of
risk you are willing to take will also
in��uence the decision to adopt such
technologies. Various incentives are
now currently available to encourage
the use of renewables on-farm.
Biomethane
The 2021 Climate Action Plan set a
target of 1.6TWh of biomethane by
2030. This would require in the order
of eighty 20 GWh Anaerobic Digestion
(AD) plants (equates to feedstock
provision of approx. 37,000 t of slurry
and biomass). Minister Ryan has
increased this target by 256 per cent to
5.7 TWh by 2030, as part of the 25 per
cent reduction in emissions from the
agriculture sector, which forms part
of the carbon budgets outlined in the
Climate Action Plan.
This would satisfy about 10 per cent of
our current natural gas demand and
industry has reported that 2.1 MtCO2eq
would be abated. The minister says this
would require 285 20 GWh plants or a
smaller number of larger-scale plants.
The main opportunities expected are for
farmers to supply grass on a contractual
basis to feed these AD plants.
Incentives Available
The Targeted Agricultural
Modernisation Schemes (TAMS) is
funded through pillar II of the EU
Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
This is 50 per cent funded by the EU
and 50 per cent by the Irish exchequer
through the Department of Agriculture
Food and Marine. The TAMS 3 scheme
will provide an investment grant to
farmers to improve the energy e���ciency
of farm buildings or their equipment.
The investment grant can cover up to 60
per cent of total installations costs for
up to 62kWp for solar PV system. The
Pig and Poultry Investment Scheme is
also funding up to 62kW PV. TAMS will
have a dedicated fund with an upper
ceiling of €90,000 over the TAMS period
of 2023-2027. This means that you will
not be eating into your TAMS money
for building work by investing in solar
technology.
Farmers who avail of TAMS supports
will now be able to export small
amounts of electricity through the
Micro generation Support Scheme
(MSS) which covers installations up
to 50kW. This will be a market rate
payment through the Clean Export
Forage_Guide_2023.indd 29 27/03/2023 16:49

30
Guarantee (CEG) mechanism. You will
be selling via your electricity (utility)
supplier.
The Renewable Electricity
Support Scheme (RESS)
This is a key renewable electricity policy
which provides ��nancial support to
renewable electricity projects. It is a
pivotal component of the Government
Climate Action Plan and is essential
for achieving Ireland’s 80 per cent
renewable electricity target by 2030.
Supported by the PSO levy; competitive
auctions will decide which generators
will receive contracts. The ��rst RESS
auction in 2020 saw 82 onshore wind
and solar farm projects secure funding.
The second RESS auction which opened
in December 2021 for projects between
500kW to 600GWh per annum, aims
to increase the technology diversity to
include on-site storage.
Unfortunately RESS will not be
favourable to on-farm technologies such
as biogas Anaerobic Digestion (AD)
or biomass Combines Heat and Power
(CHP) as higher cost technologies will
have to compete against lower cost
technologies such as wind and solar in
the auction process.
Such higher cost technologies will
be necessary to provide continuous
renewable electricity supply compared
to the intermittent nature of solar PV
and wind which only generate energy
when the sun shines or the wind blows.
The current opportunities for farmers
are to lease their land to solar, wind and
energy storage developers. Hopefully
RESS 3 will present better opportunities
where speci��c categories for smaller
scale projects between 50kW and
500kW or a speci��c ring-fenced category
for biogas CHP.
The Support Scheme for
Renewable Heat (SSRH)
This was launched by the Dept.
of Environment Climate and
Communications (DECC) in June 2019.
The scheme supports renewable heat
generation while ensuring that biomass
is sourced through sustainable forest
management as governed by the strict
criteria in the RED II Directive. Fossil
fuels can be displaced with indigenous
resources such as biogas, bioliquids,
energy crops, wood-chip and ��rewood.
This o�fer opportunities for farmers to
supply forestry pulpwood together with
biomass energy crops such as willow
and create alternative land uses to
cattle-rearing.
The Scheme for Renewable Heating
(SSRH) – is administered by SEAI
and unfortunately not being widely
accessed, despite our climate crisis and
emissions reduction targets. In January
2022 just €350,000, or 2 per cent, has
been paid out under the SSRH scheme,
which had a budget of €19.3m. While
administrative issues have been quoted
as a barrier to get involved, this scheme
is very relevant to the hospitality sectors
but hotels have had other ��res to
quench over the past two years.
The Microgeneration Support
Scheme (MSS)
This scheme aims to get 380MW of
renewable electricity into our electrical
grid by getting panels on approx. 70,000
buildings. Under the proposed scheme
renewable systems between 6kW and
50kW will qualify for a Clean Export
Premium (CEP) per kWh of renewable
electricity generated for 15 years. This
CEP tari�f is expected to begin later in
2022 and will pay a tari�f of €0.135 /
kWh which is higher than the current
average wholesale electricity price.
We still do not know the full details
about selling electricity to the grid. It
is expected that farmers and anybody
with available land or roof-space will be
allowed to export excess electricity back
to the national grid. DECC Minister
Eamon Ryan stated that ESB networks
have developed a more e���cient grid
connection process for these systems
between 6kW and 50kW (MSS projects).
Small Scale Generation Scheme
A new renewable electricity scheme
to provide alternative income streams
for farmers is set to be launched in
the third quarter of 2023. This could
be a potential on-farm diversi��cation
option for farmers to get involved in.
The Small Scale Generation Scheme will
provide a 15 year Government backed
funding to develop projects ranging
from 50kW to six megawatts (MW) in
electricity production capacity for both
self-consumption and for export. The
scheme will use a support mechanism
called a two way feed-in-premium
(FIP) which will ensure a rate of return
of investment of 6 per cent. A wide
range of renewable technologies will be
eligible for the scheme including, wind,
hydro, hybrid battery storage, biomass
and biogas projects.
Strategy Needed
Ireland has massive green energy
potential. There is a great deal of
enthusiasm for renewables within
the agri-sector. All of the renewable
technologies such as wind, solar,
AD, biomass will all require farmers
involvement by dedicating their land in
the clean energy transition. While we
have a Climate Action Plan developed
we need a clear strategy which can show
how agri-renewables can contribute to
the aim of building a cleaner, greener
Ireland. It also needs to set out how
far we can go in capitalising on the
opportunities o�fered and where we see
the future for agri-renewables.
A good strategy would demonstrate
how the Irish Government, working in
collaboration with industry and other
stakeholders, will continue to support
development to achieve a sustainable
and viable market for agri-renewables
to help us deliver the transition to a
low carbon economy. I look forward to
seeing farmers, across Ireland making
the most of our natural resources
and with the right incentives in place
helping us to transform the way Ireland
produces and uses its energy.
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31
LEADING DAIRY TECH COMPANY
HELPS TACKLE FARM EMISSIONS AND
IMPROVE SUSTAINABILITY
Mary Mulvihill of Dairymaster writes how milking technology is helping to transform the dairy farming industry in Ireland.
The dairy industry includes over
17,000 dairy farmers and supports
a further 60,000 jobs, with dairy
economic output valued at €11.3
billion and exports valued at €5.2
billion in 2020.
There is a substantial multiplier e�fect
across the rural economy due to the
dairy industry as every €1 of dairy
exports represents a 90 cent spend
within the Irish economy. In stark
contrast, every €1 of goods exported by
multinational companies represents a
much smaller 10 cent spend within the
Irish economy.
The Irish dairy industry is known for its
high-quality products, including milk,
butter, cheese, and other dairy products.
Many Irish milk producers have
embraced sustainable practices and
are focused on producing high-quality,
nutritious food while minimising their
environmental impact.
One of the key challenges facing the
industry at farm level is the shortage
of skilled labour and the di���culty in
attracting younger generations into the
industry. At present, there is a clear
lack of labour availability on Irish dairy
farms. Having an adequate number of
milking units is pivotal in encouraging
e���ciency on farms by reducing milking
times, reducing labour and ensuring a
better work/family life balance. Agri
technology and modern equipment
also reduce the physical burden of daily
tasks on the farm, making dairy farming
a more attractive career.
Dairymaster (DM) has always put a
strong emphasis on energy e���cient
products, time and labour-saving
technologies and sustainable solutions
to future proof the farm. These topics
are becoming increasingly important
for dairy farmers and Dairymaster
continues to invest in R&D to provide
next-generation technology and
products. So much so, that the company
has extensively rebuilt its equipment
and herd management platforms and
have a new suite of software.
DM LiveVue gives the farmer a full
picture of everything that is happening
in real-time in the parlour, from
information on the cows entering or
leaving the platform and the status of
cows currently milking, to the camera
views at cups o�f or in the collecting
yard.
Technology across the dairy unit has
advanced signi��cantly in recent years
and has become an integral part of the
management process on farm. The DM
Swift��o Commander o�fers a level of
intelligence and a lot more information
for monitoring and controlling each
cow’s milking and feeding, as well as
animal health at each cow milking point
– when and where it’s needed.
There is no longer a need for running
up and down the parlour with notepads
or walking to the o���ce to look up
information. Changes made at the
milking point are automatically saved at
source, making life easier for the farmer.
Simple and easy to read visualisations
of cow ID, group numbers, milk
yields, milking duration, milk and
wash temperature, SCC and SCC
as a percentage of the herd, makes
it easy for the farmer to see what is
going on at individual cow level. The
system integrates seamlessly with
other Dairymaster products such as
ClusterCleanse, MooMonitor+ and
much more. With a push of a button,
you are in full control of whether to
draft or retain cows, manage a cow’s
feed and more.
In addition, the system automatically
prompts the farmer when a cow is in
heat or alerts the farmer when a freshly
calved cow is in front of them. It uses
milk composition data to identify
cows at risk of ketosis and ��ags this
information to the farmer.
DairyVue360 is a complete farm
DairyVue360 is a complete farm management system.
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32
management system, which can record,
analyse and display data for both the
equipment and the cows remotely and
via mobile. It can seamlessly integrate
external data such as milk recording
and combine milk productivity data
with health and fertility data to help the
farmer make better decisions for the
future of the farm and herd.
Fertility and herd health management
in Irish dairy farming can have a
signi��cant impact on the carbon
footprint of the industry. Farmers
need to select the right genetics when
breeding cows to ensure that they
produce high-quality milk.
Farms that installed the MooMonitor+
system have seen a reduction in the
number of inseminations, shorter
calving intervals and increased genetic
gains, as well as higher submission and
conception rates. Improved reproductive
performance can be converted into
direct monetary values for the farm,
from reduced A.I. straw usage, more
calves per cow per year, higher
production and reduced labour costs.
The MooMonitor+ is a wireless
wearable sensor that allows farmers
detect individual cow heats and health
events with ease through advanced data
analysis. It monitors cows daily and
identi��es speci��c types of behaviour
such as feeding, rumination, resting
time, and di�ferent types of activity
intensity. This helps them identify issues
and make informed decisions about the
management of their herd.
Rumination data gives the farmer a
great indication of animal welfare. Cows
love to ruminate; it shows how the cow
is feeling and re��ects their digestive
performance. It can also enhance
heat detection accuracy even further
and indicates when a cow is getting
sick. The system pushes Health Alerts
making a farmer aware when it detects
health problems. This allows early
intervention, reduced animal health
products usage and better recovery rates
on farm.
As farms continue to develop, certain
areas must be identi��ed for improving
productivity and reducing costs.
Moreover, given the cost of electricity,
equipment such as plate coolers,
variable speed drives, e���cient milk
cooling tanks have a huge role to play
in saving energy and, in turn, saving
money.
The Dairymaster VSaver rapidly
optimises pump speed according to air
demand for the parlour. As a result,
motors use less current during normal
operation. Typically, where the VSaver
is installed, there is 50-80 per cent less
energy consumption.
Teagasc estimate two-thirds of on-farm
electricity usage is consumed for milk
cooling and water heating. With the cost
of electricity and with signi��cant recent
increases it is vital to reduce usage.
The annual electricity demand for milk
cooling on Irish farms is approximately
100,000 MWhr. It’s also important to
look at older bulk tanks and cooling
units in terms of the type of refrigerant
that’s being used. Older refrigerants
with high Global Warming Potential are
now banned.
Dairymaster’s SwiftCool milk tank
keeps the milk in better condition and
reduces the amount of electricity being
used. Excellent thermal performance
means milk temperature changes <0.5C
if left unpowered for an entire day,
saving you money. With night mode
function, further savings of up to 25
per cent of annual cooling costs can be
made.
The need to have enough hot water on
the farm is more critical nowadays with
the use of chlorine-free detergents, yet
heating water is an energy intensive
process. However, in addition to
reducing the cooling costs through
higher e���ciency, there is also the
possibility of recovering signi��cant
amounts of heat from the milk. The
SwiftCool Duo recovers 100 per cent
of the condensation heat generated by
the cooling unit. This allows the farmer
to heat water very quickly and for
every litre of milk cooled, you have the
potential of heating a litre of water to
55 degrees Celsius – doing most of the
work for the boiler.
Milking technology is transforming
the dairy farming industry in Ireland,
it’s giving farmers the capability
and functionality of doing herd
management as they go about their
daily tasks, improving e���ciency,
productivity, and sustainability. By
utilising these technologies, farmers can
optimise their management practices,
reduce energy and improve cow welfare,
ensuring the long-term viability of their
farms.
The MooMonitor+ is a wireless wearable sensor that allows farmers detect individual
cow heats and health events.
The SwiftCool Duo recovers 100 per cent
of the condensation heat generated by
the cooling unit.
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33
OPTIMISE MILK FAT PRODUCTION FOR
ECONOMIC REWARD
Dr Enda Neville, Ruminant Technical Manager at Celtic Sea Minerals, explains how Acid Buf can help to increase milk fat
production in dairy cows.
Milk fat is an important constituent
of milk. Despite playing second
��ddle to milk protein in economic
terms, it still makes a signi��cant
contribution to farm-gate milk
price. At recent prices of €5/kg of milk
fat, a 0.3 per cent increase in milk fat
for a cow yielding 28 litre per day is
worth €0.42/ cow per day or an increase
of 1.5 c/l. For the average 100-cow
herd, this equates to €42 per day. Fat is
the most variable component of milk
and most sensitive to dietary changes
(Stockdale et al., 2003). However, there
are many factors underpinning milk
fat production in dairy cows, such as
breed, genetics, milk yield and stage of
lactation.
Rumen acetate, derived from microbial
digestion of ��bre, is a precursor for
milk fat production at the mammary
gland. Historically, it was thought that
a reduction in milk fat was caused by a
lack of rumen acetate. This may still be
partially true for high-starch diets but
research from the last two decades has
Giving cows access to an e�fective ��bre
source, such as straw to help to maintain
milk fat production.
Table 1. The percentage di�ference in fat concentration per litre between cows fed Acid
Buf and cows fed a control diet.
4.4
4.2
4
3.8
3.6
3.4
3.2
Fat %
Acid Buf Control
Bernard
et al., 2014
Cruywagen
et al., 2014
Neville
et al., 2019
Neville
et al., 2022
Average
Bernard
et al., 2014
Cruywagen
et al., 2014
Neville
et al., 2019
Neville
et al., 2022
Average
Table 2. The di�ference in total milk fat per kilo between cows fed Acid Buf and cows
fed a control diet.
1.8
1.6
1.4
1.2
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
Fat %
Acid Buf Control
Forage_Guide_2023.indd 33 27/03/2023 16:50

34
broadened our understanding
of milk fat synthesis.
Rumen biohydrogenation
is a process carried out
by rumen microbes that
convert unsaturated fats
from the diet into milk fat.
When excessive levels of
unsaturated fats and oils
are consumed, compounds
called biohydrogenation
intermediates are produced
that reduce milk fat
synthesis when absorbed
by the mammary gland
(Bauman and Griinari,
2003). The production
of these compounds is
exacerbated when rumen
pH is low. Research has
shown that maintaining
the rumen pH above 5.8
reduces the production of
these compounds, even
when feeding high levels of
unsaturated fat (Fuentes et
al., 2009).
Milk fat production is often
reduced in dairy cows
consuming pasture-based
diets due to high levels
of unsaturated fat in the
ryegrass and a low rumen
pH (O’Grady et al., 2008;
Plaizier et al., 2022) caused
by the lack of e�fective ��bre.
While it is di���cult to avoid
the high levels of unsaturated
fatty acids in ryegrass, it is
still possible to minimise or
prevent a reduction in milk
fat. Strategies that promote
optimum rumen conditions
will help to maintain milk fat
production and can include
the following:
• Feeding Acid Buf;
• Giving cows access to an
e�fective ��bre source, such
as straw;
• Avoiding rapidly
fermentable grains;
• Avoiding ingredients
containing high levels of
unsaturated or free-fatty
acids; and
• Ensuring cows graze-out
paddocks and consume
the bottom 4-6cm of the
grass plant.
Acid Buf is a natural marine-
derived feed additive that
optimises rumen function
and increases milk fat
production. Acid Buf has
been scienti��cally tested by
several research institutes
and validated by farmers
in 52 countries around the
world. The unique physical
structure of Acid Buf allows
it to become fully soluble in
the rumen, prevent periods
of low rumen pH and
optimise rumen conditions
(Cruywagen et al., 2015;
Neville et al., 2019). Acid
Buf has been scienti��cally
proven to increase milk fat
production in dairy cows.
A recent review found that
dairy cows fed Acid Buf
produced milk with 0.31%
higher fat concentration per
litre and 0.16kg more total
milk fat compared to cows
fed a control diet (Bernard
et al., 2014; Cruywagen
et al., 2015; Neville et al.,
2019; Neville et al., 2022).
This represents a return-
on-investment of 8-10:1
The recommended feeding
rate for Acid Buf in grazing
cows is 50 to 80g per day
and can be added through
the concentrate. Acid Buf is
distributed in Ireland by AB
Vista and ProNutri.
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