Grazing Grass: Monocultures vs Mixtures for Better Milk Production

The farm tests grass monocultures and mixtures to identify optimal varieties for improved palatability, manageability, and milk production. Located on 121 ha of clay/loam soil in a temperate oceanic climate, it uses rotational grazing at 2.85 LU/ha, aiming for 4,500 liters of milk per dairy animal annually over a 300-day grazing period. The initiative focuses on increasing grass-based feed, reseeding underperforming areas, and reducing costs. Research support from Moorepark and participation in discussion groups enhance the approach. PastureBase Ireland is used for data tracking. Several grass varieties are thriving, demonstrating strong performance under farm conditions.