Tom O’Grady farms near Donadea, not far from Prosperous, Co Kildare, with his parents Tom Sr and Mary. The O’Gradys moved to this farm over 50 years ago, when Tom Sr moved from Doonbeg in west Clare.

The only water Tom Sr sees now is the Ballynafagh Lake that adjoins the farm. It’s a special area of conservation and according to Tom, Birdwatch Ireland have counted 37 bird species living near the lake. Tom graduated from Waterford Institute of Technology in 2014.

Total area farmed is 46ha and all of this is available for grazing. Overall farm stocking rate is 1.95 cows/ha and cows graze from March to November.

Sires are selected for good fertility, positive for fat and protein and good feet and legs

The herd is pedigree Holstein Friesian and Tom has been working with World Wide Sires using AI for 12 weeks. For the first eight weeks dairy AI is used and then beef AI for the four weeks after that. Sires are selected for good fertility, positive for fat and protein and good feet and legs. Maiden heifers are also bred to AI and for the past two years sexed semen has been used to natural heats and so far results have been good. The plan is to continue to use sexed semen in the heifers and perhaps some in the cows.

Measures to make the farm more sustainable are being taken, with GPS for fertiliser spreading, LED lighting, night-rate electricity, LESS tanker grant aided, extended grazing, protected urea use and nutrient management plans.

Attention to detail is key for the O’Gradys and the pre-milking routine highlights this.

Milk is produced all year round on this farm, as there is a liquid contract in place

Teats are pre-sprayed using Dermalac, each quarter is stripped to visually check for mastitis and handle each cow. Teats are wiped with clean paper to remove the pre-spray.

Like most of the finalists, Tom switched to chlorine-free detergent for washing the bulk tank and parlour. Chlorine-free has been used on the bulk tank for the last three years and over one year ago for the parlour washing. So far, so good, with good results.

Milk is produced all year round on this farm, as there is a liquid contract in place - the farm originally supplied Premier Dairies. Anyone who visits this farm would have no problem consuming any product made from milk produced on this farm.