John O’Connell – Sheep Award Winner
Enterprise: Sheep Farmer
From: Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim
Farm Size: 34 Ha
Annual Tonnage: 12 T Grass DM/Ha (3 year avg)
Number of Grazings: 7 Grazings/Paddock/Year
Stocking Rate: 2.1 LU/Ha
Output Kg/Ha: 860 Kg/Ha (Liveweight Sold)
John is the 2019 Sheep Grassland Farmer of the Year. He runs a 260 ewe mid-season lambing flock and brings all lambs except replacements through to slaughter. He has excellent grazing infrastructure and system of grazing. John farms in a high rainfall area with a difficult soil type. Output per ewe is high at 70 kg.