Demonstration farms/units are a key pillar of the DairyBeef 500 Programme Campaign. The demonstration farms/units will illustrate key technologies including:
Irvine farms 58ha at Mount Temple, Moate, Co. Westmeath. His current system is 21-29 month Friesian steer beef. Irvine purchased his first batch of dairy-beef calves in 2012. Previous to this he had 10-12 suckler cows and was buying in 35 weanlings annually. All animals were brought to slaughter. He has sold out his suckler cows in order to expand his calf-to-beef enterprise. John Kelly is his local Teagasc advisor.
Ciaran Bartley from Boher Co. Limerick runs a dairy calf to beef enterprise on 74ha. Some of the land is heavy. His current system is Friesian steers, 22-24 months and early- maturing heifers, 20 months. His local Teagasc advisor is Aileen Walsh.
Peter is farming 72ha of dry land at Castledermot on the Kildare/Carlow border. His current system is 19 – 22 month heifer and 22 – 26 month steer beef. Up until 2008, he was running a suckling to beef and sheep enterprise on the farm, alongside a tillage enterprise. Over time, the farm has transitioned away from suckler and sheep production to a calf-to-beef enterprise. His local Teagasc advisor is John Brophy.
Aidan is currently farming 46ha of grassland and 14ha of forestry outside Navan, Co. Meath. The farm is in two blocks with 40ha owned and 20ha leased. His current system is Calf to 18-20 month heifers and 22-26 month steers. Previous to rearing dairy calves, Aidan operated a tillage enterprise along with keeping a group of suckler cows. Almost 20 years ago he decided to cut back on cow numbers, quit the tillage and started to operate a dairy calf to beef enterprise. His local Teagasc advisor is David Argue
Having transitioned from a suckler enterprise to calf to beef production a number of years ago, Peter, who farms in partnership with his father Tom – has built numbers to increase output over recent years. From Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny the farm is 94ha with friesian steers and early-maturing steers and heifers. Aine Butler is his local Teagasc advisor.
James farms 31ha along the coast in West Cork near Union Hall. Some of the land is extremely good quality that is free draining and fertile in nature. A second smaller block of land is slightly heavier and colder due to its elevation. His current farming system is 20 – 22 month early-maturing heifers. Anna Sexton is his Teagasc Advisor
Gareth operates a calf-to-beef and tillage enterprise on 45ha at Drumlougher Co. Donegal. He is in a registered farm partnership with his parents. Calf numbers have been growing year-on-year with all animals purchased from the one dairy farm. His current system is month Holstein Friesian steers. A new five-bay slatted shed has just been completed on the farm and Gareth is keen to make strides in grassland management over the duration of the programme. Kevin McMenamin is his local advisor.
Jarleth from Corbally, Claremorris, Co. Mayo currently farms 45ha with his father Austin. After graduating from Mountbellew Agricultural College in 2018, Jarlath decided to get more involved with the running of the home farm. They currently run a 20 – 24 month steer system. Vincent Ronayne is his local Teagasc advisor.
Charlie is a relatively new entrant to calf-to-beef production. He is farming 50ha just outside Virginia, Co. Cavan – on a mixture of owned and leased ground. His system is 24 – 26 month Holstein Friesian steers. Roslyn Fay is his Teagasc Advisor.
