“making it happen” · “making it happen” ... shift frequency farm layout fencing grazing...

“Making it Happen”

Charley Walker BSc (hons) NSch

Barnside Farm

@BarnsideFarm

Stocking Rate

+35%

Output per Hectare

+50%

2 fields, set stocked

8 paddocks, 3 day shifts

Increased Pasture Growth

Improved Pasture

Utilisation

Improved Pasture Quality

BUT

2 Tonnes of Concentrate Feed

3 x 3 Reel systems + posts & gates

4 x 100 gallon Water Troughs

10 x 100m rolls of 25mm pipe

Paddock Size

BlockSize

GroupSize

Shift Frequency

Farm Layout

Fencing

Grazing System

Water

Management & Labour

Handling Facilities

Access & Laneways

2 fields, set stocked

8 paddocks, 3 day shifts

Stocking Rate +35% (2013-2017)

0

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2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Sto

ckin

g kg

/ha

KgLW produced/hectare +50%

0

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450

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

kg li

vew

eig

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pro

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ced

/ha

Sheep Beef

Outer Grazing Block

160 acres Improved Pasture:

divided into 24 x 7 acre paddocks

Inner Grazing Block

160 acres Improved Pasture

divided into 24 x 7 acre paddocks

Rough Grazing & Heather

110 acres of species rich grassland and heather moorland

Several disjointed enclosures ranging from 2 to 48 acres

Wintering & Finishing Block

160 acres temporary grass and undersown arable silage

Subdivided into 7 acre paddocks for autumn only

Farm Layout

Outer Grazing Block Inner Grazing Block

Rough Grazing & HeatherWintering & Finishing Block

April to mid May – Lambing & Calving

Outer Grazing Block Inner Grazing Block

Rough Grazing & HeatherWintering & Finishing Block

Late May – “The Great Migration”

Outer Grazing Block Inner Grazing Block

195

Rough Grazing & HeatherWintering & Finishing Block

Late May to mid June – 1st Rotation

Outer Grazing Block Inner Grazing Block

Rough Grazing & HeatherWintering & Finishing Block

Late June to early August – 2nd & 3rd Rotations

Outer Grazing Block Inner Grazing Block

Rough Grazing & HeatherWintering & Finishing Block

Mid August to late October

Outer Grazing Block Inner Grazing Block

Rough Grazing & HeatherWintering & Finishing Block

November & December

Outer Grazing Block Inner Grazing Block

Rough Grazing & HeatherWintering & Finishing Block

110 ac

January & February

Outer Grazing Block Inner Grazing Block

Triplets & Thins

Rough Grazing & HeatherWintering, Silage & Finishing

March

Outer Grazing Block Inner Grazing Block

Rough Grazing & HeatherWintering & Finishing Block

Late March – Pre-lambing rotation

Outer Grazing Block Inner Grazing Block

Rough Grazing & HeatherWintering & Finishing Block

April to mid May – Lambing & Calving

26/09/2019

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kgD

M/h

a

Target Range

Actual Cover

Forecast Cover

Minimum Cover

Measured

(kgDM/ha) Start J F M A M J J A S O N D

Forecast/Actual 1,468 1,455 1,482 1,561 1,701 2,085 2,180 2,397 2,663 2,684 2,426 1,993 1,669

Minimum 478 498 82 521 1,143 1,329 1,388 1,530 1,677 1,766 1,841 1,379 741

Pasture Cover for BarnsideJan 19 - Dec 19SBD 7.2.2.41

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kg

DM

/ha/d

Actual Growth

Predicted Growth

Total Annual kgDM/ha kgDM J F M A M J J A S O N D

Forecast/Actual 7,722 /ha/d 0.0 7.2 9.8 20.0 41.4 38.7 52.1 40.2 24.0 15.2 4.0 0.0

Potential Pasture Growth for BarnsideJan 19 - Dec 19SBD 7.2.2.41

Final Tips

• Be Bold– Go as large as you dare with group size

– be creative with mixed mobs

• Be Flexible– Build in as much flexibility as possible to give you

management options

• Keep it simple – It’s simple to design a complex system but

complex to design a simple system

Charley Walker

Barnside Farm @BarnsideFarm