A large crowd of approximately 250 people attended the first of two farm walks taking place on Nigel O’Kane’s farm near Athenry, Co Galway, on Thursday.

Nigel is farming a 27-strong continental-type herd of cows on 25ha of free-draining land, all while running a full-time plumbing business. The farm is very typical of those found in the west of Ireland, being highly fragmented and consisting of many small fields surrounded by stone walls.

When discussing Nigel’s farming system and targets for the BETTER farm programme, Nigel admitted that meeting the ambitious profit and stocking rate targets would be challenging given this year's difficult conditions. However, he said the overall targets will stay the same and it may just take a little longer.

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The grassland, breeding, dairy calf-to-beef and fodder boards generated a good amount of discussion between host farmer Nigel, the speaker and the audience members. Nigel’s exceptionally well-bred herd of cows also attracted a lot of attention from the crowd

Autumn mart trade

Also speaking at the event, Athenry Mart manager Alan Barry said that the outlook for this autumn’s weanling trade looked mainly positive. “I don’t think there is much concern for the bull trade because there is still a steady demand from exporters,” he said. However, he went on to say that “the heifer weanling trade looks like it will be more challenging than it was last year”.

Barry also said that Athenry Mart hasn’t seen a huge drop in quality. "The quality of the suckler herd hasn’t reduced around Athenry, there is possibly a few extra calves, but we don’t see a huge influx.” Early signs are pointing towards a trade of €2.70/kg for good continental weanling bulls.

In quotes

On average you’re looking at three to four hours per day to run this farm. The secret to my system is keeping it simple

– Nigel O’Kane, host farmer.

We talked a lot about targets - without growing more grass it won’t be possible to meet targets

– Tommy Cox, BETTER Farm advisor, Teagasc.

My ideal cow is around 650kg, with milk, calves every year and has a good calf

– Nigel O’Kane, host farmer.

I don’t see much concern about the trade for bull weanlings because of a steady demand from exporters. The weanling heifer trade will be more challenging than it was last year

– Alan Barry, Athenry Mart manager.

In tweets

For more on Nigel O’Kane’s BETTER farm open day, see next Tuesday’s BETTER farm update online here

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