Description
Key points
The importance of grassland to agriculture in Ireland is indicated by the fact that:
- Sixty percent of agricultural output is from grassland as cattle, milk and sheep products.
- Over 90% of the total farmed area is in grass.
- Livestock are almost entirely dependent on grazed grass for 200 to 235 days of the year.
- Grass conserved as silage is the main source of fodder in winter.
- To improve competitiveness changes are continuously taking place, which include:
- increased suckler herd size and a movement to late maturing continental cattle breeds;
- movement in the dairy herd towards Holstein with increased production per animal;
- increased importance, post CAP reform, of technical efficiency to maintain competitiveness in a more market-orientated era, and
- greater influence on future livestock systems of agri-environmental support schemes and environmental legislation.
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Overview of Animal Production from Pastures in Ireland
Key points
The importance of grassland to agriculture in Ireland is indicated by the fact that:
- Sixty percent of agricultural output is from grassland as cattle, milk and sheep products.
- Over 90% of the total farmed area is in grass.
- Livestock are almost entirely dependent on grazed grass for 200 to 235 days of the year.
- Grass conserved as silage is the main source of fodder in winter.
- To improve competitiveness changes are continuously taking place, which include:
- increased suckler herd size and a movement to late maturing continental cattle breeds;
- movement in the dairy herd towards Holstein with increased production per animal;
- increased importance, post CAP reform, of technical efficiency to maintain competitiveness in a more market-orientated era, and
- greater influence on future livestock systems of agri-environmental support schemes and environmental legislation.
