March 15, 2021 6:30 am
Soil conditions and inclement weather are two of the biggest limitations affecting the extension of the grazing season on Irish dairy farms.
Over 50% of soils in the Republic of Ireland are classified as podzols, gleysols or histosols.
These soils are slow draining and practically impervious, thereby preventing full-time turnout to pasture in early spring and late autumn, due to a high risk of poaching damage.
Teagasc researchers Michael O’Donovan and Emer Kennedy, completed a trial in order to investigate ways in which the grazing season can be extended and therefore increase the proportion of grazed grass in the diet.