Teagasc hosts farm walk in Carnew

A SOUTH Wicklow farm hosted a farm walk recently as part of the Better Beef Farm Challenge Programme which Teagasc / Irish Farmers Journal run with support from ABP, Dawn Meats, FBD and Kepak.

Brian Doran of Croneyhorn, Carnew opened his 85ha farm to the event which detailed the improvements made to his enterprise since he joined the programme 18 months ago.

These changes include increasing the number of grazing divisions from eight to 24, increasing stock rate, completing a weekly grass walk, weighing beef cattle three times per year, tightening of calving pattern, and taking out surplus grass as silage bales.

It was outlined to visiting farmers how they too could implement the same improvements on their own farms.

As part of the event, a number of information stands were set up on the day covering topics including: current farm system and financial performance; Herd Health & Breeding; Grassland management/Reseeding/ Soil Fertility; Beef markets & specs and Health & Safety.

ABOVE: The Doran family, who hosted the farm walk. LEFT: Pearse Kelly, Kay O’Connell, Alan Dillon, Grainne O’Shea, Martin Bourke, Tommy Cox, Eoin Woulfe from Teagasc, host Brian Doran, Bob Sherriff, Hugh Mahon, Peter Laurence, John Greaney, Marie...