I farm: “32ha, stocked at 3.15LU/ ha. We started milking for the first time in January this year. There are 60 heifers now milking, with 30 more due on 1 September and 35 heifer calves being kept.”

Background: “I grew up milking Jerseys in the 1960s before brucellosis wiped the herd out. I’ve been suckler farming part-time since then. I worked for 30 years with CBF and Bord Bia, but we’ve both been farming full-time for the past two and a half years, with my wife, Angela, doing most of the hands-on farming.”

Beef to dairy: “We had pushed the farm to the limit by calving 52 pedigree Simmental and Charolais cows the last year we were in it. Now, we plan to go to about 100 spring-calving milkers by 2017, and each of them will give us an income.”

Feeding: “We began zero-grazing in February of this year; it matches well with our robotic milking system. It is still early days, but the system is working well – it’s costing us 2.5c/l, and delivering a return of about 4c, mainly in extra grass and milk, with less fertiliser. The entire herd are first calvers, getting an average of 2.6kg/day, ranging from 0kg to 7kg, on feed to yield.”

Performance: “The herd is averaging 23 litres, at 4% fat and 3.4% protein. This year, we are on target to do 6,500 litres and 470kg solids on average.”

Breeding: “Most of the herd are Holstein/Friesian, with a few Jerseys and some Pure Fleckviehs. Everything is in-calf to Fleckvieh this season.”

Milk price: “Yes, it’s very low, but last year we looked at it and decided to plan for up to two years of 25c/l to 30c/l. Unfortunately, I see no reason to change that view yet.”

Family: “I farm with my wife, Angela. We have two sons, Fionn and Daire, who are both working away from home.”

Quotable quote: “Dairying takes a huge investment, but we’re enjoying it thoroughly and learning every day.”