Over the last fortnight, I have been doing a variety of different tasks for the organization, one of the highlights of which was my visit to the Kepak feedlot. This high spec cattle holding facility is home to just under 4000 cattle and is situated in Clonee, Co.Meath. It was amazing to see such a facility and the logistics involved in such a large scale operation. Even the sight of 4000 cattle in one place was an unforgettable sight – definitely a massive change from the small family farm that we run back home!

Kepak work in conjunction with Irish Hereford Prime (IHP) in supplying all Supervalu stores across the country with high quality Hereford beef. In order to meet the high demand for IHP produce Kepak house a constant supply of HEX cattle throughout the year – with over 1150 HEX commercial cattle present when I visited the facility. The HEX cattle are housed and fed a grain based diet for 90 days prior to slaughter which takes place at the Kepak factory in Clonee. The diet includes a mixture of silage, barley, maize, molasses and concentrates. The grain feeding ensures that the meat is of high quality and is marbled throughout, with a layer of white fat which is the preferred choice for consumers. Some HEX cattle have seen live weight gains of 1.49kg/day on this diet and all animals are comfortably finished within the 90 days and are slaughtered at less than 30 months.

Following from this I also visited pedigree herds of ‘Rathregan Herefords’ and ‘Ardmulchan Herefords’ in the Meath area. This was a really lovely treat as I got to meet some of my fellow Hereford breeders and also got the opportunity to see some of the top pedigree Hereford herds in the area. This provided a good balance between commercial and pedigree producers and it was really interesting to compare and contrast both styles of farming system – however I will always be a pedigree girl at heart!!

I also spent a few days working with a Bord Bia inspector. This involved me travelling with him and carrying out the Bord Bia Quality Assurance audits on farms around the country. This was a very interesting few days and I learned an awful lot about the standards and regulations that have to be maintained in order to produce beef in a safe and sustainable way. Sustainability is a key element in modern day farming and we must farm in a safe way to ensure we preserve our land for the next generation to come. Sustainable agriculture strives for reduced energy use, efficient production, renewable energy sources and reduced GHG emissions and is the cornerstone of efficient and profitable production. This is a huge plus of the Hereford breed as they can be finished earlier and off grass with little concentrate supplementation which promotes their efficiency and overall sustainability.

Overall I have enjoyed my time spent with Irish Hereford Prime and it was a great opportunity to an insight into the farmers who supply the beef. I start my next stage of placement with reproductive specialist Dr. Dan Ryan. I will spend two weeks assisting in the scanning of cows up and down the country and I’m can’t wait to get started!!

Susan Dudley is a third year student, currently completely a degree in Agricultural Science in University College Dublin. As part of her studies, she must undertake a number of professional work placements over the course of 20 weeks. Read more of Susan's updates by clicking here