For the Worrell family from Knockbrack in Whitegate, Co Clare, moving from cattle farming to dairy farming in 2018 was the start of a new era for the family. It wasn’t the first time they made a big change, with Nigel and Philip’s father Francis originally moving from Kildare to Clare in the 1980s.

Born into a tillage farming family, Francis hasn’t lost the love of the soil and he still does all the ploughing and tilling on the farm whenever there’s some reseeding to be done.

With 28ha in the home block, Nigel made the decision to get into cows in 2018.

Near the edge of Lough Derg, the land is super quality, flat and free draining as is common in this part of east Clare. Nigel says the farm burns up very easily and that can be a challenge, especially in dry summers like 2026.

Recently reseeded paddocks on the Worrell farm.

However, on the flip side the springs are much easier to manage as cows can go to grass quickly while avoiding damage.

The herd started off in 2018 with 50 first-calving heifers and 20 cows. Buoyed by the success of dairy, the Worrells took the opportunity to lease a neighbouring farm when it became available in 2022. This farm consists of 125 acres in one block and Nigel converted this to dairy also, installing a second-hand milking machine in a disused milking parlour.

Roadway and water system

This farm was previously in dairy, so the paddock, roadway and water system was already in place.

Located just down the road from the home farm, the outside block is managed by Nigel’s brother Philip and there are 108 cows milked there, with 84 cows milked on the home farm plus 34 dry cows to calve this autumn.

Worrell family farm, Whitegate, Co Clare.

The highest EBI first and second calvers are kept at home and these are inseminated to dairy, using a high proportion of sexed semen.

Nigel wants heifer calves from these cows. Whereas he doesn’t really want replacements from the older cows on the outside farm so there are beef bulls running with this herd to keep things simple.

Last year the herd delivered 498kg MS/cow to Kinisla, from about 1t of meal per cow.

There was also milk fed to calves last spring as Nigel opted not to buy any milk replacer, so the true production figure is higher.

The EBI of the herd is close to average at €130, but this is something Nigel sees value in improving and is putting more effort into bull selection, with a particular focus on fat and protein percent. Fertility is good, with typically 7% to 8% empty after 10 weeks of breeding.

Nigel is a member of the Scariff discussion group and under the tutelage of Teagasc adviser Aidan Bugler he grows between 13t and 14t of grass per year. Nigel is also a participant in the Kinisla Evolve programme, opting for nine measures in total including protected urea, soil sampling and milk recording.

Family farm

In terms of labour, it’s very much a family farm with Nigel and Philip the main operators but greatly assisted by their father Francis and Nigel’s son Evan.

Worrell family farm, Whitegate, Co Clare.

Nigel’s sister Rachel works as a relief milker as does local man Eoin Hayes, meaning the two brothers get every second Sunday off.

  • Nigel Worrell is milking 226 cows across two milking platforms near Whitegate in Co Clare.
  • The home farm is carrying 84 cows, the outside farm carrying 108 and there are 34 autumn calving cows.
  • The family were new entrants to dairying in 2018 having previously run a beef farm and contracting business.