The Graham family farm at Mullaghdoo near Killeshandra on the Cavan/Leitrim border. They milk 90 cows on a grass-based diet and have made very significant progress over the last 10 years. Three generations of Grahams are farming and each seem as enthusiastic as the other. Soil type in this area is heavy and the topography is hilly so constant maintenance is required to keep land productive. All family members play an active role in running the farm.
Stanley took over the farm in 1999 and at the same time Stanley’s father took the early retirement scheme
Stanley’s parents Jim and Eileen bought the farm at Mullaghdoo and started milking cows with a bucket plant. Stanley took over the farm in 1999 and at the same time Stanley’s father took the early retirement scheme.
That year Stanley’s uncle also took the early retirement scheme so Stanley and his wife Dawn decided to lease that farm which runs alongside the home farm at Mullaghdoo. At this stage there were sucklers and dairy cows on the farm.
In 2000 they built a double cubicle shed on to the existing two-bay shed and calving pens and also bought a six-unit milking parlour. In 2008 the last of the sucklers left the farm so only milking cows were left.
Like a lot of the farms in the area, there is a percentage of forestry on the farm
In 2015 Tanya completed her Agri Environmental degree and then went into partnership with Stanley, which allowed the farm expand further. A three-bay cubicle shed was built and a new 10-unit herringbone parlour was installed. Quota brakes coming off allowed for a further increase in cow numbers.
Total area farmed is 69ha, with a total grazing area of 60ha. Like a lot of the farms in the area, there is a percentage of forestry on the farm. The Grahams have an area near the lake that is low-input pasture and about 8ha of forestry.
The aim is to improve the fat to 4.2% and the protein to 3.6%
Calving takes place from September to May so milk is supplied all year round. About 60% of the herd are in calf to dairy AI while the other 40% are in-calf to natural service.
Breeding decisions are based on increasing milk solids and matching cows. The aim is to improve the fat to 4.2% and the protein to 3.6%.
At the moment the solids are about 3.85% fat and 3.20% protein.
This farm has come a long way in a short time and I’ve no doubt will further improve in time. It’s on the right road.
Cow numbers 2019: 75Herd EBI: €93Total milk delivered (2019): 484,952Total milk solids (2019): 35,039Fat % average: 3.83%Protein % average: 3.18%Milking parlour: 10-unit herringboneWeighted TBC average (2019): 9Weighted SCC average (2019): 94Detergent used parlour: Turbosan CFDetergent used bulk tank: Turbosan CFProportion of herd using selective dry cow therapy (SDCT): 0%Nitrogen used (kg/ha): 150Proportion protected urea: 0%Measure grass: yes
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Young milking cows average €1,500 at Templemore Mart
Stricter rules on dairy labelling welcomed
The Graham family farm at Mullaghdoo near Killeshandra on the Cavan/Leitrim border. They milk 90 cows on a grass-based diet and have made very significant progress over the last 10 years. Three generations of Grahams are farming and each seem as enthusiastic as the other. Soil type in this area is heavy and the topography is hilly so constant maintenance is required to keep land productive. All family members play an active role in running the farm.
Stanley took over the farm in 1999 and at the same time Stanley’s father took the early retirement scheme
Stanley’s parents Jim and Eileen bought the farm at Mullaghdoo and started milking cows with a bucket plant. Stanley took over the farm in 1999 and at the same time Stanley’s father took the early retirement scheme.
That year Stanley’s uncle also took the early retirement scheme so Stanley and his wife Dawn decided to lease that farm which runs alongside the home farm at Mullaghdoo. At this stage there were sucklers and dairy cows on the farm.
In 2000 they built a double cubicle shed on to the existing two-bay shed and calving pens and also bought a six-unit milking parlour. In 2008 the last of the sucklers left the farm so only milking cows were left.
Like a lot of the farms in the area, there is a percentage of forestry on the farm
In 2015 Tanya completed her Agri Environmental degree and then went into partnership with Stanley, which allowed the farm expand further. A three-bay cubicle shed was built and a new 10-unit herringbone parlour was installed. Quota brakes coming off allowed for a further increase in cow numbers.
Total area farmed is 69ha, with a total grazing area of 60ha. Like a lot of the farms in the area, there is a percentage of forestry on the farm. The Grahams have an area near the lake that is low-input pasture and about 8ha of forestry.
The aim is to improve the fat to 4.2% and the protein to 3.6%
Calving takes place from September to May so milk is supplied all year round. About 60% of the herd are in calf to dairy AI while the other 40% are in-calf to natural service.
Breeding decisions are based on increasing milk solids and matching cows. The aim is to improve the fat to 4.2% and the protein to 3.6%.
At the moment the solids are about 3.85% fat and 3.20% protein.
This farm has come a long way in a short time and I’ve no doubt will further improve in time. It’s on the right road.
Cow numbers 2019: 75Herd EBI: €93Total milk delivered (2019): 484,952Total milk solids (2019): 35,039Fat % average: 3.83%Protein % average: 3.18%Milking parlour: 10-unit herringboneWeighted TBC average (2019): 9Weighted SCC average (2019): 94Detergent used parlour: Turbosan CFDetergent used bulk tank: Turbosan CFProportion of herd using selective dry cow therapy (SDCT): 0%Nitrogen used (kg/ha): 150Proportion protected urea: 0%Measure grass: yes
Read more
Young milking cows average €1,500 at Templemore Mart
Stricter rules on dairy labelling welcomed
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