The value of grass Dr Mary McEvoy Germinal Ireland, Horse & Jockey, Thurles, Co. Tipperary Presentation 00/00/2014 www.germinal.com 0504 41100
Sourcing information on varieties DAFM Recommended List Simulated grazing 8-10 cuts General purpose 6 cuts 2 silage harvests Teagasc Pasture Profit Index Ranks varieties on monetary terms
Teagasc Pasture Profit Index Teagasc/ DAFM collaboration Total merit index to assist in variety selection Quantifies economic value of each trait Assigns economic value to cultivar performance Determine Total Economic Merit of each variety in per ha/year Published with 2015 DAFM Irish Recommended List
Teagasc Pasture Profit Index (PPI) 2015 Uses simulated grazing data from DAFM trials Most varieties have 2 sowing years and 2 harvest years Limited data on 11 varieties * indicates only one sowing year (2 harvest years) 3 varieties have no PPI value
PPI Sub Indices Variety Details DM Yield PPI Details Quality Silage Persistency Variety Ploidy Heading Date Spring Summer Autumn Total /ha per year Abergain T 05-Jun 42 50 43 58 26-11 208 Dunluce T 30-May 43 45 58 35 24-11 194 AberChoice D 10-Jun 24 52 47 57 9-5 184 Abermagic D 30-May 47 53 78 21 13-28 184 Kintyre T 08-Jun 29 40 58 25 14 0 166 Rosetta* D 24-May 97 40 39-2 19-28 165 Astonenergy T 02-Jun 10 41 43 54 12 0 160 Seagoe* T 29-May 30 45 43 13 38-11 158 AberPlentiful* T 08-Jun 15 44 48 30 15 0 152 Magician T 22-May 59 37 42-5 28-11 150 Giant T 20-May 39 50 39-2 22 0 148 Trend T 24-May 25 41 30 3 38 0 137 Navan T 06-Jun 14 41 50 21 10 0 136 Aspect* T 05-Jun 26 45 29 30 10-5 135 Carraig T 24-May 42 40 38-19 31 0 132 Solomon D 23-May 66 32 35-30 22 0 125 Drumbo D 07-Jun 27 35 35 36-4 -11 118 Delphin T 02-Jun 13 42 27 10 21 0 113 AberCraigs T 04-Jun 14 38 21 17 18 0 108 Glenroyal* D 05-Jun 25 41 46-2 6-11 105 Majestic* D 02-Jun 43 38 43-23 0 0 101 Boyne* D 22-May 42 39 33-56 41 0 99 Glenveagh* D 03-Jun 37 39 34-22 7 0 96 Twymax* T 07-Jun -11 48 20 27 17-5 95 Stefani* D 01-Jun 25 34 27-9 9 0 86 Piccadilly* D 03-Jun 31 38 22-30 16 0 77 Tyrella D 04-Jun 41 23 19-1 0-11 71 Mezquita D 06-Jun 22 30 18-22 6 0 54 Solas T 10-Jun....... Rodrigo D 27-May....... Clanrye D 06-Jun.......
The Value of Extra Grass in the Diet Grazed Grass Grass Silage Concentrate Cost c/kg DM 6 13.2 26 Relative Cost 1 2.2 4.3 Replace 1 kg Concentrate with 1 kg Grazed Grass 210 days at grass 1 cow = 0.20 210 = 42 Each extra day at grass is worth 1.54 per suckler cow per day Each additional t DM/ha utilised will increase net profit by 160 per ha Net profit ( /ha) 4000 3000 2000 1000 0 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000 16000 Estimated Grass utilisation (kg DM/ha)
Extra grass in spring Earlier turnout to grass Increased milk protein Increased milk yield Reduced feed costs Each additional day at grass = 2.70 per cow per day 100 cows x 2.70 = 270 per extra day = 1890 per week PPI difference= 108/ha per year in spring growth
Extra grass in autumn Extend the grazing season in autumn Reduced feed costs Increased animal performance Each additional day at grass = 2.10 per cow per day 100 cows x 2.10 = 210 per extra day = 1470 per week PPI difference= 60/ha per year in autumn growth
Autumn per ha/year Extra Grass in Spring and Autumn - PPI 80 Abermagic 70 60 60 Kintyre Dunluce 50 40 30 Navan AberChoice AberPlentiful* Glenroyal* Abergain Astonenergy Seagoe* Majestic* Drumbo Giant Carraig Delphin Trend Aspect* Glenveagh* Stefani* Boyne* Magician Solomon Rosetta* 20 Twymax* AberCraigs Mezquita Piccadilly* Tyrella 10 108 0-20 0 20 40 60 80 100 Spring per ha/year
The value of Quality 1% increase in DMD% = 5% increase in animal performance What is the impact of this in real terms? RL Contol Mean (Late PRG) E.g. A cow produces 25 l/day on control sward On 84.4% DMD grass, she will potentially yield 27 l/day 2 l/cow/day = 0.60c per cow/d x 100 cows = 60 per day 30 days = 1800 for 100 cow herd AberGain DMD% 82.7 84.4 Difference in DMD +1.7% Difference in animal performance +8.5%
The effects of silage digestibility on concentrate feed required (kg) to maintain animal performance Additional concentrate requirement for a 5-unit reduction in DMD Finishing cattle Kg per day 1.9 Lambs Kg per day 0.35 285 kg/ 150 d finishing period 25 kg/ 70 d Finishing period Pregnant ewes Kg in late pregnancy 22.6
Boyne* Carraig Glenveagh* Solomon Piccadilly* Mezquita Majestic* Tyrella Rosetta* Giant Glenroyal* Magician Stefani* Quality per ha/year Trend Solas Rodrigo Clanrye Drumbo Dunluce AberPlentiful* Aspect* Twymax* Kintyre Abermagic Navan AberCraigs Seagoe* Delphin Abergain AberChoice Astonenergy The difference is quality - PPI 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0-10 -20-30 -40-50 -60-70 Mean DMD Difference is 4.4% = 114 on PPI
Quality PPI value /ha per year PPI comparing spring and quality Spring v Quality PPI comparison 60 Astonenergy AberChoice Abergain 40 20 Twymax* AberPlentiful* Navan AberCraigs Delphin Drumbo Aspect* Kintyre Seagoe* Dunluce Abermagic 0 Trend Glenroyal* Giant Stefani* Glenveagh* Tyrella Magician Rosetta* -20 Mezquita Carraig Piccadilly* Majestic* Solomon -40 Boyne* -60-20 0 20 40 60 80 100 Spring PPI value /ha per year
Total DM Yield ( j/ha per year: spring+summer+autumn) PPI Comparing DM Yield (spring + summer + autumn) and Quality 190 180 170 160 Rosetta* Abermagic 150 140 Solomon Magician Dunluce Abergain 130 120 110 100 90 80 Boyne* Majestic* Glenveagh* Piccadilly* Giant Carraig Glenroyal* Tyrella Stefani* Trend Kintyre Seagoe* AberPlentiful* Navan Aspect* Drumbo Delphin AberChoice Astonenergy 70 Mezquita AberCraigs 60 Twymax* 50 40-60 -50-40 -30-20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 Quality ( /ha per year)
Persistency 2% of grassland is reseeded annually Important trait Pasture Profit Index 0 is considered a persistent variety Less persistent varieties have a negative value associated with them Smaller difference than in other traits PPI difference= 28/ha per year Sward density (Ground Score) Used to quantify persistency Related to GS change High GS varieties may be difficult to graze?
Soil fertility Critical to establishment, performance and persistency Soil test: ph, P and K Target ph: ph 6.2-6.5 mineral soils ph 5.5 peat soils Max lime application of 3 t/ac Target P and K Index 3 90% of swards are below target Get a soil fertility plan in place Maintain targets once they re achieved
Clanrye* D 06-Jun....... Late Diploids PPI 2015 PPI Sub Indices Variety Details DM Yield PPI Details Quality Silage Persistency Variety Ploidy Heading Date Spring Summer Autumn Total /ha per year AberChoice D 10-Jun 24 52 47 57 9-5 184 Drumbo D 07-Jun 27 35 35 36-4 -11 118 Glenroyal* D 05-Jun 25 41 46-2 6-11 105 Majestic* D 02-Jun 43 38 43-23 0 0 101 Glenveagh* D 03-Jun 37 39 34-22 7 0 96 Stefani* D 01-Jun 25 34 27-9 9 0 86 Piccadilly* D 03-Jun 31 38 22-30 16 0 77 Tyrella D 04-Jun 41 23 19-1 0-11 71 Mezquita D 06-Jun 22 30 18-22 6 0 54
Late Tetraploids PPI 2015 PPI Sub Indices Variety Details DM Yield PPI Details Quality Silage Persistency Variety Ploidy Heading Date Spring Summer Autumn Total /ha per year Abergain T 05-Jun 42 50 43 58 26-11 208 Kintyre T 08-Jun 29 40 58 25 14 0 166 Astonenergy T 02-Jun 10 41 43 54 12 0 160 AberPlentiful* T 08-Jun 15 44 48 30 15 0 152 Navan T 06-Jun 14 41 50 21 10 0 136 Aspect* T 05-Jun 26 45 29 30 10-5 135 Delphin T 02-Jun 13 42 27 10 21 0 113 AberCraigs T 04-Jun 14 38 21 17 18 0 108 Twymax* T 07-Jun -11 48 20 27 17-5 95 Solas* T 10-Jun.......
Rodrigo* D 27-May....... Intermediate diploids PPI 2015 PPI Sub Indices Variety Details DM Yield PPI Details Quality Silage Persistency Variety Ploidy Heading Date Spring Summer Autumn Total /ha per year Abermagic D 30-May 47 53 78 21 13-28 184 Rosetta* D 24-May 97 40 39-2 19-28 165 Solomon D 23-May 66 32 35-30 22 0 125 Boyne* D 22-May 42 39 33-56 41 0 99
Intermediate tetraploids PPI 2015 PPI Sub Indices Variety Details DM Yield PPI Details Quality Silage Persistency Variety Ploidy Heading Date Spring Summer Autumn Total /ha per year Dunluce T 30-May 43 45 58 35 24-11 194 Seagoe* T 29-May 30 45 43 13 38-11 158 Magician T 22-May 59 37 42-5 28-11 150 Giant T 20-May 39 50 39-2 22 0 148 Trend T 24-May 25 41 30 3 38 0 137 Carraig T 24-May 42 40 38-19 31 0 132
Germinal varieties - 2015 AberGain 1st AberChoice 3rd Dunluce 2nd AberMagic Kintyre 5th Drumbo Navan Tyrella Seagoe Clanrye