Go To: Current Farm Update
David explains the breeding plans they have for this year for both their heifers and cows.
Litres/Cow – 25.2
Fat % – 4.59
Protein % – 3.65
SCC – 100
Kg MS/Cow – 2.14
Meal Kg – 3
Average Farm Cover – 686
Cover/LU – 174
Pre Grazing Yield– 1500
Growth Rate – 69
Biodiversity Audit – YES
Tom is farming with his son David near Portarlington Co. Laois.
Land – 200 Ha in three blocks
Soil fertility – overall soil fertility is 32%, the low K status is at 27% but the farm soil pH is 97% for soil pH above 6.3 and the farm has 89% at Index 3 and 4 for Phosphorus.
Cows – milking 330 cows in 2023 and they have 83 in calf heifers.
Milk – 520kgMS per head in 2022
Facilities – good, with new calf shed and silage pit built in 2022.
Calving interval – 370 days and six week calving rate of 92%
Grassland – reseeding programme has focused on multi species reseeds on both the milking platform and the heifer block.
Clover – there is some red clover on the milking platform which is for silage and grazing usually with the heifers.
This video gives an overview of the farm & changes made over the years. They are currently milking 180 cows & stocking rate is 2.45 LU/Ha. They joined the Programme, as they want to improve farm sustainability - both economically & environmentally. Water usage & energy usage will also be monitored.
