‘My ambition is to be finished work at 6pm’

“EVERYBODY with an out-farm, owned or rented, should ask themselves if it is an asset or a liability. Not so much in terms of profitability but in terms of sustainability.”

This was the advice of Teagasc dairy specialist Pat Clarke, speaking at the farm walk hosted by Seamus Brennan in Attanagh, Co Laois.

Of the 70 adjusted ha that Seamus farms, his milking platform is 31.8ha on which he has 103 cows (moving to 113 next year). The remainder is spread between four out-farms, two owned, two rented. All calves are reared so he also has a substantial cattle enterprise. Average stocking rate is 2.5LU/ha.

Seamus admitted that he feels “absolutely” under pressure and said that, at one stage, he had become overwhelmed. He hires in help, five days a week in the spring, and one day throughout the rest of the year while two of his children also help out.

In the discussion following the walk, other farmers made a number of suggestions as to how Seamus could reduce the pressure.

One was that he could get someone else to herd stock on the out-farms, another that he should get rid of the beef enterprises altogether because the margin is low, and perhaps give up one or both leases.

In terms of managing stock, one farmer pointed out that the number of groups has more impact than the actual number of cattle. His advice was to minimise the number of groups of stock on the farm.

Other suggestions were getting someone else to contract rear his replacement heifers and once-a-day milking for the first few weeks after calving before the cows go out to grass.

In terms of ambition, Seamus said it is be to be finished work by 6pm.

Pat Clarke said the most efficient farmers all have short milking intervals. He also pointed out that there is no relationship between milking interval and milk yield.