Signpost Farms

Tom O' Connell

Tom farms 197Ha in Inniscarra, Co. Cork, he milks 320 cows is & is stocked at 215kg N’Ha. He has 2 fulltime staff plus casual staff & relief milkers. His wife Helen does the paperwork & his daughters help with calves. The 6 week calving rate is consistently over 86%. Current EBI of the herd is €250 & the heifers are €277. The cows supplied 498kgs MS/cow on average & the platform has averaged 14t grass Dm/ha from 2021-2024. Soil type is free draining. Facilities include a 36 unit rapid exit parlour, good housing & grazing infrastructure. Use of Red & white has reduced chemical N use on the farm

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Joe Morrissey

Joe is farming in Rostellan. Midleton, Co. Cork with his Dad, Tom. They are currently farming 66.4Ha. They are stocked at 190 kg N/ha. In 2024 they milked 110 cows. The EBI of the herd is €208 & the heifers are €250. The 6 week calving rate is 85%. The cows produced 489kg MS/cow in 2024. Soil type is grey/brown podzolic free draining loam, growing 11t/DM/ha. Facilities on the farm include a 12 unit parlour, good housing and good grazing infrastructure throughout the farm.

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Sean Barry, Pallasgreen, Co. Limerick

Sean & his father Pat are milking 66 cows. They are farming 54ha. Overall stocking rate was 158kg organic N/Ha in 2024. EBI of the herd is €253 & the heifers are €279. 6 week calving rate is 89%. Cows produced 439kg MS/cow in 2024. Soil type is heavy with 3-4in of top soil over blue clay. Grass grown in 2024 was 13.1t DM/Ha. Facilities include a 12 unit parlour with cubicle space for 77 cows. This is a fragmented farm, with the milking block split into 4 parcels. The paddock system includes central roadways, spur roadways and multiple gaps and water troughs. Local Adivsor: Tim Doody.

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John Walsh, Ballylooby, Cahir, Co. Tipperary

John & Brendan Walsh farm 106 Ha, with one hired labour unit. Dairying is the main enterprise, milking 160 cows with a small calf to beef enterprise. Overall stocking rate is 195 kg organic N/Ha. Herd EBI is €257 & heifers are €284. The 6 week calving rate is 89%. The cows produced 525kg MS/cow in 2024. Soil quality is sandy clay. Grass grown averaged 13.6t DM/Ha from 2021 to 2024. They have significantly reduced their chemical nitrogen use by incorporating red & white clover into their swards. Facilities include 12 unit parlour & cubicle space for 170 cows. Grazing infrastructure is good.

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Sean Moher, Mitchelstown, Co. Cork

Sean’s main enterprise is dairying, milking 89 cows with a calf to store enterprise. He has a relief milker 4 evenings a week & 3 hours/day during the calving period. He farms 75.8ha. Overall stocking rate was 165kg organic N/Ha in 2024. EBI of the herd is €237 & the heifers are €274. 6 week calving rate is over 90%. The cows produced 530kg MS/cow in 2024. Soil type is free draining loam. Grass grown in has averaged 12.3t DM/Ha since 2021. A slatted unit completed in spring 2024 increased the slurry storage capacity & cubicle spaces. Teagasc Advisor is Padraig McCormick.

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Tim O'Riordan

Tim is farming in Mourneabbey, Mallow, Co. Cork, in partnership with his parents John and Breda. They are currently farming 87Ha. They are stocked at 160kg N/Ha. In 2024 they milked 107 cows. The EBI of the herd is €199 & the heifers are €240. The 6 week calving rate is 75%. The cows produced 482kg MS/cow in 2024. Grass grown has averaged 14.5t DM/Ha since 2021. Soil type is brown podzolic soil. Facilities on the farm include a 16 unit parlour and cubicles for 114 cows. Teagasc Advisor is Daniel McCarthy.

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Mark Lonergan, Rosegreen, Cashel, Co. Tipperary

Mark is milking 111 cows. He has hired labour for 5 hours/day during February & March. He is farming 60 Ha. Overall stocking rate was 204kg organic N/Ha in 2024. EBI of the herd is €217 & the heifers are €260. 6 week calving rate is 89%. Cows produced 547kg MS/cow in 2024. Soil type is free draining. Grass grown has averaged 13t DM/Ha including silage ground since 2021. Facilities on the farm include a 23 unit parlour with cubicle space for 130 cows. The paddock system includes central roadways, spur roadways & multiple gaps & water supply. Local Advisor is Darragh Kelly

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Tim Leader, Rathcoole, Mallow, Co. Cork

Tim farms 85.64Ha & his main enterprise is dairying, milking 140 cows. He has 1 full time labour unit. His wife Mary, daughter Aoife & son John help at weekends. Overall stocking rate was 190kg organic N/Ha in 2024. The EBI of the herd is €238 & the heifers are €255. The 6 week calving rate is 80%. The cows produced 482kg MS/cow in 2024. Soil type is loam in a high rainfall area. Grass grown has averaged 11.9t DM/Ha since 2021. Facilities include a 14 unit parlour & cubicle space for 166 cows. Feed-space was extended in 2024. The paddock system has a central roadways & water supply to paddocks

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Raymond Goggin

Raymond is farming in Templemartin, Bandon, Co.Cork. He is currently farming 59ha. In 2024 he milked 119 cows and overall stocking rate is 220 kg N/ha. The EBI of the herd is €231 & the heifers are €275. Raymond has placed a big emphasis on increasing his genetics for milk fat & protein % since 2020. The 6 week calving rate is 91%. The cows produced 514 kg MS/cow in 2024. Soil type is free draining. Facilities on the farm are good with a 14 unit parlour, good cubicle facilities, good feed storage and grazing infrastructure. Local Advisor is James Daunt.

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Jimmy Cotter

Jimmy is farming in Coachford, Co. Cork. Jimmy’s family help out on the farm along with his mother, Mary. They are currently farming 46 Ha, stocked at 220kg N/Ha. In 2024 he milked 107 cows. The EBI of the herd is €246 and the heifers are €275. The 6 week calving rate is 97%. The cows produced 570kgs MS per cow in 2024. Grass grown has averaged 12.9t DM/Ha since 2021. Soil type on the farm is free draining. Facilities on the farm include a 20 unit parlour, 126 cow cubicle and excellent grazing infrastructure. Local Advisor is Neily O’Sullivan.

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