When the Ryans purchased their farm in 2008 it was a working beef farm. They immediately decided to go dairy farming and applied for new entrant quota to allow them start milking cows.
They were successful, and in 2010 started supplying milk to Arrabawn from 75 first-calved heifers which were purchased as maiden heifers in early 2009 and served to calve down in 2010.
The Ryan herd started with all first-calved heifers in 2010.
From 2010 to 2018, Ailbe was working off farm alongside the dairy enterprise, but he is now full time on farm.
A 14-unit herringbone was built in 2010 and it has stood the test of time and the increase in cow numbers. There were 120 cows milked in 2018 and there are 125 milking for 2019. Every year, about 40 heifer calves are kept, with some heifers sold if not required.
This year there are 46 in-calf heifers, 20 of which will be sold, keeping 26 to replace older or poor performing cows.
Land quality
Land in West Tipperary can be tricky at times – it’s more variable than the limestone land of South Tipperary and some can be heavier wet land similar to Solohead on the Limerick border. There are more mountains surrounding Cappawhite and when you look out Ryan’s front gate, you can see three different individual windfarms on the surrounding hills. In general, Ryan’s land is well managed and serviced with farm roadways.
This year, 125 cows are being milked up from 120 cows last year.
The Ryans now have a 52ha grazing area for the cows and are farming 80ha in total. The land away from the parlour is used for grazing heifers and making winter feed.
Herd EBI is €71 with a focus on selecting sires that have better fertility and milk solids (see Key Stats).
Ailbe is of the opinion that most of his cows have enough volume at this stage and it’s a case of putting a bit of strength and fertility back into the herd.
When we called in late July, the herd were still averaging 31l per cow on good grass, 4kg of meal at 3.36% protein and 3.70% fat.
Milk supply is seasonal with no supply in January and a peak in May. In 2018, 120 cows were milked and that figure is up slightly to 125 for 2019.
A total 69,400kg of milk solids were delivered in 2018, with about 1,200kg of meal fed per cow. See key stats.
Read more
Quality Milk Awards: Bandon suppliers branching out
When the Ryans purchased their farm in 2008 it was a working beef farm. They immediately decided to go dairy farming and applied for new entrant quota to allow them start milking cows.
They were successful, and in 2010 started supplying milk to Arrabawn from 75 first-calved heifers which were purchased as maiden heifers in early 2009 and served to calve down in 2010.
The Ryan herd started with all first-calved heifers in 2010.
From 2010 to 2018, Ailbe was working off farm alongside the dairy enterprise, but he is now full time on farm.
A 14-unit herringbone was built in 2010 and it has stood the test of time and the increase in cow numbers. There were 120 cows milked in 2018 and there are 125 milking for 2019. Every year, about 40 heifer calves are kept, with some heifers sold if not required.
This year there are 46 in-calf heifers, 20 of which will be sold, keeping 26 to replace older or poor performing cows.
Land quality
Land in West Tipperary can be tricky at times – it’s more variable than the limestone land of South Tipperary and some can be heavier wet land similar to Solohead on the Limerick border. There are more mountains surrounding Cappawhite and when you look out Ryan’s front gate, you can see three different individual windfarms on the surrounding hills. In general, Ryan’s land is well managed and serviced with farm roadways.
This year, 125 cows are being milked up from 120 cows last year.
The Ryans now have a 52ha grazing area for the cows and are farming 80ha in total. The land away from the parlour is used for grazing heifers and making winter feed.
Herd EBI is €71 with a focus on selecting sires that have better fertility and milk solids (see Key Stats).
Ailbe is of the opinion that most of his cows have enough volume at this stage and it’s a case of putting a bit of strength and fertility back into the herd.
When we called in late July, the herd were still averaging 31l per cow on good grass, 4kg of meal at 3.36% protein and 3.70% fat.
Milk supply is seasonal with no supply in January and a peak in May. In 2018, 120 cows were milked and that figure is up slightly to 125 for 2019.
A total 69,400kg of milk solids were delivered in 2018, with about 1,200kg of meal fed per cow. See key stats.
Read more
Quality Milk Awards: Bandon suppliers branching out
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