The summer of 2018 really hasn’t suited Tom Bolger’s farm in Borris, Co Carlow. Tom's land is extremely free-draining in nature and looked more like the Sahara than Ireland during the severe drought. Even now, grass growth is struggling to improve, as the farm finds itself in the small pocket of land still crying out for rain.
Perhaps this farm is therefore the perfect holding to host one of the BETTER Farm autumn walks for 2018. The series of four walks has a common theme of fodder, finance and herd health running throughout – the topics that farmers need to discuss.
Fodder
On Tom’s farm, fodder conservation took a serious hit as silage ground completely stalled. A plan B was needed. Luckily, 100t of maize silage could be sourced. A hefty price was paid but little could be done to avoid this scenario. With this purchase, he hopes to be comfortable this winter.
Each of the four walks will go through the ins and outs of feeding your stock for this winter, as well as securing the finances necessary to do so – just like Tom had to do.
Progeny are destined for steer and heifer beef at 20 to 22 months of age.
Attendees of this particular walk will be visiting a mixed-suckler and dairy calf-to-beef farm. The farm comprises of 58ha in total; some tillage but mainly grazing ground. While there once was a sheep flock, this was phased out in favour of a dairy calf-to-beef system.
The system
The suckler herd consists of 50 mainly continental-type cows, all calving in the spring. Progeny are destined for steer and heifer beef at 20 to 22 months of age. Some replacements are now being kept as maternal AI is increasingly used.
Fifty dairy claves, mainly Hereford, Angus, Limousin and Simmental crosses are reared. An automatic feeder was used to leave the rearing process more manageable during the busy spring period.
On the day, both suckler stock and dairy stock will be on show setting a back-drop for discussions on fodder, finance and herd health from Teagasc staff, members of the Irish Farmers Journal livestock team and industry personnel including bank officials and local vets.
The walk will take place on Thursday 6 September at 2pm. Tom's farm is located at Clooneygoose, Borris, Co Carlow. Eircode: R95 KV80.
Read more
BETTER Farm: first stop Cork in autumn walks series
Proactive approach for BETTER farm autumn walks
Tullamore farm: growth drops and new arrivals welcomed
The summer of 2018 really hasn’t suited Tom Bolger’s farm in Borris, Co Carlow. Tom's land is extremely free-draining in nature and looked more like the Sahara than Ireland during the severe drought. Even now, grass growth is struggling to improve, as the farm finds itself in the small pocket of land still crying out for rain.
Perhaps this farm is therefore the perfect holding to host one of the BETTER Farm autumn walks for 2018. The series of four walks has a common theme of fodder, finance and herd health running throughout – the topics that farmers need to discuss.
Fodder
On Tom’s farm, fodder conservation took a serious hit as silage ground completely stalled. A plan B was needed. Luckily, 100t of maize silage could be sourced. A hefty price was paid but little could be done to avoid this scenario. With this purchase, he hopes to be comfortable this winter.
Each of the four walks will go through the ins and outs of feeding your stock for this winter, as well as securing the finances necessary to do so – just like Tom had to do.
Progeny are destined for steer and heifer beef at 20 to 22 months of age.
Attendees of this particular walk will be visiting a mixed-suckler and dairy calf-to-beef farm. The farm comprises of 58ha in total; some tillage but mainly grazing ground. While there once was a sheep flock, this was phased out in favour of a dairy calf-to-beef system.
The system
The suckler herd consists of 50 mainly continental-type cows, all calving in the spring. Progeny are destined for steer and heifer beef at 20 to 22 months of age. Some replacements are now being kept as maternal AI is increasingly used.
Fifty dairy claves, mainly Hereford, Angus, Limousin and Simmental crosses are reared. An automatic feeder was used to leave the rearing process more manageable during the busy spring period.
On the day, both suckler stock and dairy stock will be on show setting a back-drop for discussions on fodder, finance and herd health from Teagasc staff, members of the Irish Farmers Journal livestock team and industry personnel including bank officials and local vets.
The walk will take place on Thursday 6 September at 2pm. Tom's farm is located at Clooneygoose, Borris, Co Carlow. Eircode: R95 KV80.
Read more
BETTER Farm: first stop Cork in autumn walks series
Proactive approach for BETTER farm autumn walks
Tullamore farm: growth drops and new arrivals welcomed
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