There was a shine off the concrete as we drove into this Newcestown farm not far from Bandon in west Cork. Very quickly it was obvious that this was a team operation and before long we were getting the full rundown from third-generation farmers Denis and Nora, with son Michael the fourth generation to farm in Farnlough.
The Lordans operate a family partnership. Michael completed two years in Clonakilty Agricultural College before he spent two seasons working on dairy farms in New Zealand. He also spent time working in Peterborough, England, and this experience is shining through in farm developments at Newcestown.
Inside the Lordan parlour.
A new parlour has just been completed and milk started to flow in this in January 2020. The quality results below are from the old 10-unit parlour. The new 14-unit has cluster removers and air gates. The plan is to further develop slurry storage and cubicles in 2021. Michael continues to work off-farm with local contractors when time and workload allows.
The Lordans are milking 95 cows farming 57ha and finishing some of the calves to beef. The Friesian bull calves are sold at five to six weeks old and the Angus calves from the dairy herd are kept to beef.
Hose on a reel on the Lordan farm.
Grass is measured weekly and in 2019 there was 750kg of meal fed per cow and just shy of 500kg of milk solids per cow were delivered.
The cows are milky so Michael is using EBI to bring milk solids and better fertility into the herd.
Hedges on the way down to the yard.
The breeding season is 15 weeks and Michael plans to shorten this in coming years.
Similar to a lot of the competition entrants this year, all the tools to maximise soil fertility are in play. A trailing shoe tanker was purchased to reduce emissions, clover seed has been spread on some paddocks, protected urea is being used and soil tests are regular to show where slurry should go to get the best response.
The somatic cell counts are excellent throughout the year and Michael puts a lot of it down to milk recording, which they started three years ago.
The Lordan herd.
Cow numbers 2019: 87Herd EBI: €116Total milk delivered (2019): 519,486 litresTotal milk solids (2019): 42,163Fat % average: 4.24%Protein % average: 3.65%Milking parlour: 14-unit herringboneWeighted TBC average (2019): 13Weighted SCC average (2019): 71Detergent used parlour: DeLaval Chlorine freeDetergent used bulk tank: Multisan CFProportion of herd using selective dry cow therapy (SDCT): 17%Nitrogen used (kg/ha): 204Proportion protected urea: 49%Measure grass: Yes
There was a shine off the concrete as we drove into this Newcestown farm not far from Bandon in west Cork. Very quickly it was obvious that this was a team operation and before long we were getting the full rundown from third-generation farmers Denis and Nora, with son Michael the fourth generation to farm in Farnlough.
The Lordans operate a family partnership. Michael completed two years in Clonakilty Agricultural College before he spent two seasons working on dairy farms in New Zealand. He also spent time working in Peterborough, England, and this experience is shining through in farm developments at Newcestown.
Inside the Lordan parlour.
A new parlour has just been completed and milk started to flow in this in January 2020. The quality results below are from the old 10-unit parlour. The new 14-unit has cluster removers and air gates. The plan is to further develop slurry storage and cubicles in 2021. Michael continues to work off-farm with local contractors when time and workload allows.
The Lordans are milking 95 cows farming 57ha and finishing some of the calves to beef. The Friesian bull calves are sold at five to six weeks old and the Angus calves from the dairy herd are kept to beef.
Hose on a reel on the Lordan farm.
Grass is measured weekly and in 2019 there was 750kg of meal fed per cow and just shy of 500kg of milk solids per cow were delivered.
The cows are milky so Michael is using EBI to bring milk solids and better fertility into the herd.
Hedges on the way down to the yard.
The breeding season is 15 weeks and Michael plans to shorten this in coming years.
Similar to a lot of the competition entrants this year, all the tools to maximise soil fertility are in play. A trailing shoe tanker was purchased to reduce emissions, clover seed has been spread on some paddocks, protected urea is being used and soil tests are regular to show where slurry should go to get the best response.
The somatic cell counts are excellent throughout the year and Michael puts a lot of it down to milk recording, which they started three years ago.
The Lordan herd.
Cow numbers 2019: 87Herd EBI: €116Total milk delivered (2019): 519,486 litresTotal milk solids (2019): 42,163Fat % average: 4.24%Protein % average: 3.65%Milking parlour: 14-unit herringboneWeighted TBC average (2019): 13Weighted SCC average (2019): 71Detergent used parlour: DeLaval Chlorine freeDetergent used bulk tank: Multisan CFProportion of herd using selective dry cow therapy (SDCT): 17%Nitrogen used (kg/ha): 204Proportion protected urea: 49%Measure grass: Yes
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