Open Source Future Farm Update: Tom and David Fennelly

Tom and David are part of the Teagasc Glanbia future farm programme. The main objective of the program is to reduce the carbon footprint of the farm and to improve the financial returns from the farm. They are farming 104Ha all in one block, milking 240 cows and rearing replacements.

The grass growth for this time of year is poor and demand per ha is still higher than growth. The farm is currently stoched at 4.5 LU/ha.The closed silage ground is part of the milking platform and some of this could be brought back in if growth does not improve.

The cows are milking quiet well at 28.1 litres amd 2.24 kgMS/cow. This time last year they were at 2.18kgMS/cow. Grass dry matter is very high at over 20%. Intakes and graze outs are very good. They are currently feeding 2kg of meal.

Grass wedge May 07

They have sown 6ha of multispecies sward this year and they have also identified paddocks with clover. These clover paddocks will get less nitrogen from now on to encourage the clover.

The breeding season started on the 27^th of April and after 2 weeks 60 % of the cows were served. 80% of the heifers were bred in two weeks.

The EBI of €182 is working well on this farm. Each cow supplied 522 kgs of milk solids last year. The six week calving rate is 89%.

The bull team this year has an EBI of €291 and 12bulls will be used evenly across the herd. Gene Ireland pack will also be used.

Bull team average

First Published: 11 May 2021