Transitioning from conventional dairy to organic beef in Co. Tipperary
Pat Maher, a Growing Organics Demonstration Farmer, is transitioning his farm from a conventional dairy enterprise, operating under the Nitrates Derogation, to an organic suckler beef system.
His journey highlights the opportunities and challenges involved in changing farming systems while maintaining a productive and sustainable business.
Pat is a new entrant to the Organic Farming Scheme, having started organic conversion in January 2024. He farms 24 hectares (59 ac) of good, free-draining soil in Cashel, Co. Tipperary, and has incorporated more white clover over the past few years to reduce his reliance on chemical fertiliser.
As a sixth-generation dairy farmer, by 2003, Pat had been dairy farming for over fifty years. He had been in derogation and farming quite intensively prior to starting conversion to organic in January 2024.
He felt it was time for a change: “I don’t want to milk the cows anymore but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to farm, nor does it say that I want to let the place go wild. I see organic farming as using modern practices in a more sustainable way.”
The suckler herd and breeding
Pat retained his own breeding stock during the transition, and all animals are bred from the original British Friesian stock. Currently, the enterprise consists of 17 spring-calving cows.
One of Pat’s key objectives in the Growing Organics Programme is to establish a beef herd through selective breeding and produce organic cattle for the organic supply chain. He has an Aubrac stock bull with the cows and an Angus bull with Angus cross heifers. Pat’s current system involves selling the cattle at approximately 20 months for finishing within the organic sector.
This year, Pat is considering finishing some stock, selling them direct to Good Herdsmen, as cattle have performed exceptionally well at grass, with an average daily gain of 0.87kg/day, and a premium organic beef price is available.
Grassland management
Having retained his paddock system, Pat continues to measure grass on a weekly basis, using a grasshopper. Average grass production exceeded 8.5 t DM/ha across the farm in 2025, with a number of paddocks producing over 10 t DM/ha, and the highest yielding paddock achieving in excess of 14 t DM/ha. This demonstrates the farm’s ability to consistently grow and utilise high quantities of quality grass throughout the grazing season.
He has incorporated more white clover over recent years, reducing his reliance on chemical fertiliser. He has also sown multispecies swards as part of on-farm trials for the Growing Organics Programme, looking at both establishment methods and persistency of varieties. This year, he has also sown some red clover as part of an on-farm trial designed to evaluate the performance of two varieties, AberClaret and Fearga.
Housing
Pat’s sheds consist of a slatted feeding area and a solid lie back area that is straw bedded. To comply with the organic housing requirements, Pat had to ensure the cattle had at least 50% solid area for lying space. On conversion to organics, Pat removed his cubicles for ease of management and has turned this area into two calving boxes. Pat did all the shed renovations himself.
Reflecting on his decision to convert to organic farming, Pat concludes: “Now I’m still farming and I’m busy, but I’m not tied to time as much. I put my whole heart into the organic to try and get it right and set myself up, and there’s a learning curve in it. I still want to actively farm, the Organic Farming Scheme makes the transition viable. I feel like I’ve fallen back in love again with farming, the constant slog is over, it’s at my own pace now.”
Upcoming event
As part of the Growing Organics Monitor Farm Programme, Pat will host a farm walk on Wednesday, July 8 at 11:30am. Topics for discussion include: an overview of Pat’s farming system and performance; Commercial Beef Value; Multispecies Swards and Red Clover varieties and establishment techniques; Soil Health; and Farm Safety.
Growing Organics is a programme focused on supporting and increasing organic production. The programme, led by Teagasc and supported by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, promotes the adoption of best practice at farm level to increase the future viability and sustainability of the Irish organic sector.
To find out more about the Growing Organics Programme, visit here.