Buckley, CathalMurphy, Paul N. C.Wall, David2014-07-292014-07-292013Buckley, C., Murphy, P. and Wall, David (2013).Farm-gate N and P balances and use efficiencies across specialist dairy farms in the Republic Ireland. REDP Working Paper Series 13-WP-RE-02http://hdl.handle.net/11019/677working paperThis study establishes farm gate N and P balances and use efficiencies based on the average of 2 years of Teagasc National Farm Survey data in 2009 and 2010. The weighted average farm gate N surplus for this nationally representative sample of specialist dairy farms was 143.4 kg N ha-1. Average farm gate nitrogen use efficiency was 23.2%. For dairy farms operating under an EU Nitrates Derogation, the average N surplus was higher at 181.8 kg N ha-1 and averageN use efficiency was slightly lower at 22.2%. The total average farm gate P balance was 4.1 kg ha-1 in surplus, and P use efficiency averaged 83.9%. P balance ranged from -7.3 to 23.0 kg ha-1. A total of 27% had a negative P balance. The average P surplus for farms with a Nitrates Derogation was below the average of all farms at 3.5 kg P ha-1 and average P use efficiency for these Derogation farms was above the average of all farms at 90%.enDairy FarmsIrelandSustainabilityNational Farm SurveyNutrient balanceNutrient use efficiencyNitrogenPhosphorusWorking Paper