Irish Grassland Research — main achievements and advancements in the past 60 yrs and where to progress to next
In the last 60 yr Irish grassland production has increased substantially in no small part due to high-quality fundamental grassland research. Increased production from grassland has arisen from improved understanding (research and practice) of soil and plant nutrition, plant physiology and variety i...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Compuscript Ltd
2022-02-01
|
| Series: | Irish Journal of Agricultural and Food Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.15212/ijafr-2020-0152 |
| _version_ | 1827971794397560832 |
|---|---|
| author | M. O’Donovan P. Dillon P. Conaghan D. Hennessy |
| author_facet | M. O’Donovan P. Dillon P. Conaghan D. Hennessy |
| author_sort | M. O’Donovan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the last 60 yr Irish grassland production has increased substantially in no small part due to high-quality fundamental grassland research. Increased production from grassland has arisen from improved understanding (research and practice) of soil and plant nutrition, plant physiology and variety improvement, while improved understanding of feed evaluation, ruminant nutrition, grazing management and silage technology has contributed to increased utilisation of grassland. Annual grass DM production varies from 12.7 to 15.0 t DM/ha based on Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine grass variety trials. More recent data from PastureBase Ireland indicate that average annual grass production (2020) on efficient dairy and dry stock farms is 13.5 and 10.0 t DM/ha, respectively. Ireland is now one of the world leaders in grassland research, particularly in the area of grazing utilisation, the development and use of grassland databases, decision support systems and grass selection indices for grass varieties. Future pasture-based systems must extend beyond food production to deliver additional benefits to farmers, to consumers and the wider society. Future systems will require more robust grazing animals with healthier functional traits, more diverse swards supporting improved animal performance and require fewer fertiliser and chemical inputs, and will support more biodiversity and enhanced carbon storage. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T19:14:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6e939ed6cae940d3aeadca0d7cb96efe |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2009-9029 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T19:14:39Z |
| publishDate | 2022-02-01 |
| publisher | Compuscript Ltd |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Irish Journal of Agricultural and Food Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-6e939ed6cae940d3aeadca0d7cb96efe2023-04-06T06:30:43ZengCompuscript LtdIrish Journal of Agricultural and Food Research2009-90292022-02-0161111110.15212/ijafr-2020-0152Irish Grassland Research — main achievements and advancements in the past 60 yrs and where to progress to nextM. O’Donovan0P. Dillon1P. Conaghan2D. Hennessy3Teagasc, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, IrelandTeagasc, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, IrelandTeagasc, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Oakpark, Co. Carlow, IrelandTeagasc, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, IrelandIn the last 60 yr Irish grassland production has increased substantially in no small part due to high-quality fundamental grassland research. Increased production from grassland has arisen from improved understanding (research and practice) of soil and plant nutrition, plant physiology and variety improvement, while improved understanding of feed evaluation, ruminant nutrition, grazing management and silage technology has contributed to increased utilisation of grassland. Annual grass DM production varies from 12.7 to 15.0 t DM/ha based on Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine grass variety trials. More recent data from PastureBase Ireland indicate that average annual grass production (2020) on efficient dairy and dry stock farms is 13.5 and 10.0 t DM/ha, respectively. Ireland is now one of the world leaders in grassland research, particularly in the area of grazing utilisation, the development and use of grassland databases, decision support systems and grass selection indices for grass varieties. Future pasture-based systems must extend beyond food production to deliver additional benefits to farmers, to consumers and the wider society. Future systems will require more robust grazing animals with healthier functional traits, more diverse swards supporting improved animal performance and require fewer fertiliser and chemical inputs, and will support more biodiversity and enhanced carbon storage.https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.15212/ijafr-2020-0152animal productiongrass breedinggrasslandgrassland managementgrazing |
| spellingShingle | M. O’Donovan P. Dillon P. Conaghan D. Hennessy Irish Grassland Research — main achievements and advancements in the past 60 yrs and where to progress to next Irish Journal of Agricultural and Food Research animal production grass breeding grassland grassland management grazing |
| title | Irish Grassland Research — main achievements and advancements in the past 60 yrs and where to progress to next |
| title_full | Irish Grassland Research — main achievements and advancements in the past 60 yrs and where to progress to next |
| title_fullStr | Irish Grassland Research — main achievements and advancements in the past 60 yrs and where to progress to next |
| title_full_unstemmed | Irish Grassland Research — main achievements and advancements in the past 60 yrs and where to progress to next |
| title_short | Irish Grassland Research — main achievements and advancements in the past 60 yrs and where to progress to next |
| title_sort | irish grassland research main achievements and advancements in the past 60 yrs and where to progress to next |
| topic | animal production grass breeding grassland grassland management grazing |
| url | https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.15212/ijafr-2020-0152 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT modonovan irishgrasslandresearchmainachievementsandadvancementsinthepast60yrsandwheretoprogresstonext AT pdillon irishgrasslandresearchmainachievementsandadvancementsinthepast60yrsandwheretoprogresstonext AT pconaghan irishgrasslandresearchmainachievementsandadvancementsinthepast60yrsandwheretoprogresstonext AT dhennessy irishgrasslandresearchmainachievementsandadvancementsinthepast60yrsandwheretoprogresstonext |