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Muckamore, Antrim, Co Antrim
Farm size (grassland) 58.95ha
Stocking rate (CE/ha) 2.32
Herd size (breeding cows) 66
Calving index (days) 384
Calving spread (weeks) 16
Gross margin £894/ha
Production system Suckler to beef
I run a mixed farm with 66 spring-calving suckler cows alongside a poultry unit producing broilers. I have been farming on a full-time basis for just over one year, having previously farmed part-time alongside my father John. I am married to Denise and we have three young sons called Jack, Tom and Sam.
The farm has always had a suckler herd producing finishing cattle. The cows are spring-calving and predominantly Limousin in breed type.
Replacements have tended to be bought in for breeding to keep things simple. We run Limousin and Aberdeen Angus stock bulls and bring male cattle through to slaughter as steers at around 24 months of age. Heifers are finished at 20 to 22 months of age.
Over the past couple of years, I have invested in some drainage work, reseeding and in improving farm infrastructure. Through the programme, I hope to further develop the potential of the farm.
Better grazing management and improved swards will let me increase cow numbers to around 85. I would also like to start breeding my own replacements.
Portadown, Co Armagh
Farm size (grassland) 65.18ha
Stocking rate (CE/ha) 1.85
Herd size (breeding cows) 63
Calving index (days) 372
Calving spread (weeks) Spring 14, autumn 25
Gross margin £687/ha
Production system Suckler to beef
I farm alongside my father John and we run a suckler to beef system with 75 breeding cows. I have been farming full-time for the past five years.
The herd has a split calving pattern, with 55 cows calving in spring and the remainder in autumn. The herd is mainly made up of Limousin-cross cows, mostly homebred, with some replacements purchased when necessary.
The cows are bred to Limousin and Simmental stock bulls. Our male cattle are finished as young bulls.
Heifers that are not being kept for breeding are usually finished, but we do also sell some live as strong stores.
I feel that there is potential to really push our stocking rate and would like to get cow numbers up towards 100 to 110 over the next three years. Improved grassland management will play a big part in this.
I am also looking to tighten calving patterns, allowing us to maximise weight gain from grass, thereby reducing the level of purchased feed required to finish cattle.
Garrison, Co Fermanagh
Farm size (adjusted ha) 118.8ha (64.5ha)
Stocking rate (CE/ha) 1.0
Herd size (breeding cows) 43
Calving index (days) 440
Calving spread (weeks) 20
Gross margin £240/ha
Production system Suckler to weanling
I farm 118.8ha of SDA land near Garrison, which is reduced to 64.5ha when adjustments are made for hill and common land. Land type is difficult, which makes grazing options limited. I took over the farm from my father William a few years ago.
Cow numbers have dropped back from around 60 when I started farming and I now have 45 cows calving mainly from September through to December, with a few cows calving in the spring. We have a small sheep flock, purely to help manage our hill land.
Cows are mostly Simmental-crosses. Replacements are bought in as in-calf heifers, allowing me to focus on using terminal sires for breeding.
I run a Charolais stock bull as well as using some AI. All calves are sold as weanlings from eight to 10 months of age.
My focus is on improving my calving pattern to have heavier calves for sale. Using more AI should also improve calf quality and performance, maximising the sale value of the animal.
Lisnaskea, Co Fermanagh
Farm size (grassland) 68.84ha
Stocking rate (CE/ha) 0.61
Herd size (breeding cows) 35
Calving index (days) 399
Calving spread (weeks) 16
Gross margin £240/ha
Production system Suckler to weanling
I have been farming for 18 years in partnership with my mother Jacqueline. I am married to Amanda, who is also heavily involved with the running of the farm, and we have four young children.
We run a suckler herd of 35 cows, with 20 calving in spring over February and March, with the remaining 15 cows calving in September and October.
Cows are Simmental-cross-Limousin breeding, which we serve with a Charolais bull. All replacements are purchased in-calf around four to six weeks ahead of calving, which keeps the system simple.
We currently sell all progeny as weanlings at around 10 to 11 months of age.
My initial aim in the programme is to get weanlings into heavier sale weights and achieve heavier weaning weights off grass.
The farm is under-stocked, so there will also be a big push to increase cow numbers. Our land is relatively good and could carry 60 to 70 cows comfortably.
This will be done in stages, which will allow me to handle the extra numbers in terms of grazing and herd management.
Raholp, Downpatrick, Co Down
Farm size (grassland) 111ha (103.9ha)
Stocking rate (CE/ha) 1.54
Herd size (breeding cows) 80
Calving index (days) 359
Calving spread (weeks) Spring 18, autumn 7
Gross margin £610/ha
Production system Suckler to beef
I farm alongside my father Tommy and my uncle Joe a few miles outside of Downpatrick. The farm consists of 111ha, the majority of which is in grassland, with a small area of cereals grown annually.
We run a suckler herd of 80 cows, split into 63 calving in spring and 17 in the autumn. Our cow type is mainly Angus-cross and we have been generally breeding our own replacements. Occasionally, we buy in some dairy-cross-Angus calves to rear for breeding.
Cows are served with Angus and Charolais stock bulls, with male progeny finished as steers. Heifers that are not kept for breeding are also finished.
We have tended to let cattle run to 30 months before they were slaughtered, but we are gradually pulling this forward towards 24 months. Hopefully, with better grazing management and herd genetics, we will get more cattle finished at 20 to 22 months of age.
I would like to see cow numbers increase to 100. We are also looking at out-wintering options based on growing more kale.
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