When you pass through Kilcormac on the Birr to Tullamore road, you can’t but be impressed by the new Co Offaly GAA training pitches.

Right beside this are green fields, well-fenced, watered and well-managed grass. The yard development that Padraig and family have constructed is equally as impressive.

The Keanes have made great progress in a short number of years.

Padraig first started milking as a new entrant in 2014.

He now works with his father who previously worked a drystock and tillage farm following retirement from a life spent teaching. Cow numbers have gradually increased from 45 in year one to 65 in year two. Since then, the land base has increased also and this business is now up to 51ha (128 acres – 64 owned and 64 leased) with an 18ha (45ac) outfarm. In 2017, 126 cows are in milk and the farm is stocked at 2.5 cows/ha.

Progress

Having L plates up hasn’t slowed progress or the understanding of the business. With special help from Maria Blackwell, his father and mother, and local student Ciaran Moore, the trajectory has been upwards since the start.

Organisation, a can-do attitude and a 20-unit parlour, which means he isn’t all day in the parlour, are key points. Padraig sourced cows locally and credits his discussion group with a lot of the decisions made to date.

Performance is good with close to 480kg of milk solids per cow delivered from grazed grass and about 500kg of meal.

Breeding is EBI, with a focus on milk solids and fertility and Padraig plans to bring more Jersey-cross animals into the herd.

Hot water is used every morning to keep the machine pristine inside and out and once a week, an acid wash is used to remove limescale as this is a hardwater area.

The dispenser from New Zealand that squirts in the antibiotic tube.

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