Nigel operates a part time suckler-to-store/finish system on free-draining limestone ground. A full-time plumber, Nigel is married to Elaine and they have three children Patrick, Darren and Rebecca.

The 25ha farm, similar to most farms in the west of Ireland, is fragmented. As the enterprise is part-time, Nigel’s farm is very much run in sync with his off-farm business.

The suckler herd comprises of 27 continental-type suckler cows.

The suckler herd comprises of 27 continental-type suckler cows. Nigel has a keen interest in breeding and keeps a small number of pedigree Charolais cows.

Until this year, the farm was a mixed enterprise, running a flock of 30 ewes in conjunction with the sucklers. The spring-calving herd has expanded over the last number of years and numbers will continue to increase, with further scope to house greater numbers as a new slatted shed was erected last winter.

After sitting down with the BETTER farm management team, Nigel decided to switch to a finishing system as opposed to selling weanlings in autumn each year, but reiterated the necessity to keep the system streamlined in order to balance both a full-time job and a young family.

Thirty-odd dairy-bred calves are reared each year and these animals are sold live before the end of July at 17 months of age.

Selling these animals live works well for Nigel given the fact he is reducing the stocking rate at grass as growth rates dip later in the year.

In the year prior to joining the programme, Nigel’s gross margin stood at €678/ha, slightly above the group average of €598/ha.

Nigel hopes to increase the output on the holding by 400kg/ha and acknowledges finishing his homebred stock will leave him with greater returns.

Nigel was involved in a grassland discussion group prior to joining the programme and this has given him an upper hand in learning the fundamentals of growing and utilising more grass and keeping his variable costs low.