More than 130 people attended the second Teagasc/Irish Farmers Journal BETTER farm beef challenge autumn walk, held on Tom Bolger’s farm in Co Carlow.
Ironically, showers were present overhead for much of the afternoon – something that has been extremely hard to come by in that particular area as the land still cries out for more moisture, according to Tom.
He even joked that he “would think about holding more farm walks if that’s what it takes to bring the weather”.
On the day, discussion, as with all farm walks in this autumn series, revolved around fodder, finance and herd health.
Farming system
At the opening stand, the farming system was outlined by Teagasc programme adviser Tommy Cox and host farmer Tom Bolger.
By 2021, this 58ha sucker and dairy calf-to-beef farm has a target stocking rate of 2.8LU/ha, gross output of €2,300/ha and an overall gross margin target of €1,150.
According to Teagasc programme manager Alan Dillon, this was a conservative target and the farm has the potential to achieve higher.
Questioned on the farm system, Tom explained that the farm was previously a suckler and sheep system.
“Don’t get me wrong”, he explained, “there was absolutely nothing wrong with the sheep and we got on very well at them, but I was finding it too difficult to calve cows and lamb sheep. My son Ian, who has a big role to play on the farm, also has an off-farm job so I needed to simplify the system”.
Furthermore, Tom explained the reasoning behind his use of large continental breeds in the herd as opposed to opting for the dairy-cross suckler genetics.
“One thing I would say about the continental animal is they might not have the heaviest weanling but I always feel they have a better animal for finishing or store compared with dairy-bred stock.”
Fodder
Tom is facing into this winter with adequate fodder supplies. Given the year that the farm has experienced, this would certainly not have been possible to achieve if steps were not taken from an early stage, Tom said.
As a result, 200t of maize silage was purchased at a cost of €10,000.
On the decision, Tommy Cox said that “purchasing 200t of maize silage guarantees Tom has enough fodder for the winter no matter what happens''. Yes, it going to affect the bottom line significantly, but it allows him to sleep soundly at night now.
Hugh Mahon and Siobhan Kavanagh of Teagasc also went through fodder budgets and alternative feed and diet options for farms facing a fodder deficit.
Finance and herd health
Also speaking on the day was Kevin Connolly, financial specialist with Teagasc, Chris Nolan from AIB and Tom's local vet Gerard Ahern from Barrowvale veterinary clinic, who each went through various aspects of farm finance and herd health issues facing into this winter.
The next autumn BETTER farm walk will take place at 4pm on Tuesday 11 September on Sean Hayes’ farm in Lisduff, Tulla, Co Clare. Eircode: V95W280.
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