The Ballyhaise Agricultural College team showcases what their college has to offer in this series of videos.
Ranging from an overview of Ballyhaise Agricultural College, the courses available and the various enterprises present, watch the videos below to find out more.
College overview
In the first video, Principal John Kelly provides an overview of the Ballyhaise Agricultural College farm, which consists of dairy, beef, sheep, calf rearing, machinery and forestry enterprises.
“I am proud of the vital role our college farm plays in delivering practical skills based agricultural education. With active enterprises in dairy, suckler, beef, calf to beef, sheep, tillage, forestry and machinery, students gain hands-on experience of all the major sectors in Irish farming,” he explains.
Watch the video below, for more insights:
The Sheep Enterprise at Ballyhaise Agricultural College
In the below video, Fergus O’Rourke introduces the sheep enterprise at Ballyhaise Agricultural College.
A closed flock, consisting of 170 ewes and 30 ewe lambs primarily of Suffolk/Belclare cross and Texel/Belclare cross breeding, its main objective is to support students learning through practical skills development and the application of what they’ve learned in the classroom.
Learn more about the sheep enterprise at Ballyhaise Agricultural College below:
The Calf Rearing Enterprise at Ballyhaise Agricultural College
Eirinn Lynch, Dairy Technician, talks us through the Calf Rearing Enterprise at Ballyhaise Agricultural College in the below video. Running a standalone calf rearing enterprise, replacements for the college’s dairy herd and dairy-beef calves are reared.
The Forestry Enterprise
Running for the past 37 years and with just over 45 hectares of forest and woodland within the college estate, Edward McTernan, Forestry Teacher, discusses the forestry enterprise at Ballyhaise, where full time level 5 and 6 courses are offered.
The Machinery Enterprise
John McElvaney, Machinery Teacher, outlines how Ballyhaise trains students in farm mechanisation. The machinery enterprise plays a key role in preparing students for a rewarding career in the agricultural and mechanisation sectors.
For more on the mechanisation courses offered, watch the below video:
The Beef Enterprise
Liam McWeeney, Teacher and Beef Enterprise Leader, details how suckler cows are managed at Ballyhaise, the finishing system, nutrition and how animal performance recording is utilised.
All progeny are brought to beef from the college’s 35-cow suckler herd, but its primary objective is to support the education programme in the college, offering students interested in beef farming practical training in sustainable and profitable beef production systems.
For more insights on the beef enterprise, watch the below video:
The Dairy Enterprise
Dairy teacher, Alastair Pollock tells us how the college operates a modern and progressive unit, which plays a crucial role in student training and agricultural research. Through this enterprise, students get hands-on experience in grassland management, milking, herd health and sustainable dairy production.
Find out more about the college’s dairy enterprise in the below video: