Brendan and John Grehan farm 19ha in Taughmaconnell in south Co Roscommon. The pair have been in farm partnership since 2015 and run a suckler herd of 18 cows as well as a flock of 55 late January-lambing ewes.
Both Brendan and John work full-time off-farm so the farm system needs to be able to work around their busy schedules. It is for this reason that they use a Limousin stock bull, having tried AI in the past.
The beef system is to produce weanlings for sale in late autumn at around 325kg to350kg. All replacements are bought in to avoid the need to change the stock bull every couple of years.
A Limousin calf off a Belgian Blue cross cow.
Brendan Grehan farms in partnership with his father John.
Housing
Housing on the farm is quite tight, but the family can hold back a small number of weanlings over winter if needs be. Last winter five heifer weanlings were kept as they were later born and were not heavy enough for sale in November.
Last year's heifers that were wintered. They will be sold in the coming weeks.
The sheep system ties in nicely with the cattle, with ewes lambing in late January. At this time of year the dry ewes are used as toppers around the farm, cleaning out paddocks after the cattle.
Read the full story in this week’s Irish Farmer Journal in print and digital.
Brendan and John Grehan farm 19ha in Taughmaconnell in south Co Roscommon. The pair have been in farm partnership since 2015 and run a suckler herd of 18 cows as well as a flock of 55 late January-lambing ewes.
Both Brendan and John work full-time off-farm so the farm system needs to be able to work around their busy schedules. It is for this reason that they use a Limousin stock bull, having tried AI in the past.
The beef system is to produce weanlings for sale in late autumn at around 325kg to350kg. All replacements are bought in to avoid the need to change the stock bull every couple of years.
A Limousin calf off a Belgian Blue cross cow.
Brendan Grehan farms in partnership with his father John.
Housing
Housing on the farm is quite tight, but the family can hold back a small number of weanlings over winter if needs be. Last winter five heifer weanlings were kept as they were later born and were not heavy enough for sale in November.
Last year's heifers that were wintered. They will be sold in the coming weeks.
The sheep system ties in nicely with the cattle, with ewes lambing in late January. At this time of year the dry ewes are used as toppers around the farm, cleaning out paddocks after the cattle.
Read the full story in this week’s Irish Farmer Journal in print and digital.
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