Rural Enterprise Skillnet Visit Research centre:
As part of the Rural Enterprise Skillnet training programme, 25 farmers from Donegal visited the Derrypatrick Herd at Grange, Co Meath on Friday 23rd March 2012.
The group were facilitated by Dr Edward O Riordan, Enterprise Leader, Grange Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre and Denis Minnogue, farm manager.
Dennis Minnogue explains the farm operation to RES visitors
The Derrypatrick Herd at Grange was established in 2009 for the purposes of research demonstration to Irish suckler beef producers. The objective is to establish a high profit, grass-based, sustainable suckler beef systems research herd evaluating and demonstrating optimal animal breeding, grass-based feed nutrient supply and technical efficiency. The animals or carcasses produced are suitable for the high priced continental EU markets i.e. lean carcasses of good conformation.
The research farm entails120 spring-calving suckler cows comprising four breed types (with 30 cows per herd), these being: Limousin × Holstein-Friesian, Limousin × Simmental, Charolais × Limousin, and, Charolais × Simmental, all of known genetic merit, mated to high genetic merit, late-maturing sire breeds, producing progeny to slaughter on predominantly grass-based, calf-to-beef systems operated at a relatively high stocking rate (220 kg organic Nitrogen/ha).
The cow breed types selected broadly represent the suckler “cow types” in the country. The suckler cow replacement breeding strategies planned for the herd is also representative of what is available to Irish farmers, that is either sourcing replacement heifers from the dairy herd (i.e. Limousin × Holstein-Friesian) or from the suckler herd (i.e. Limousin × Simmental, Charolais × Limousin and Charolais × Simmental).
The Rural Enterprise Skillnet visiting group enjoyed the glorious weather in late March. On arrival the group viewed and engaged with Denis Minnogue to discuss the findings of the research in the 120 cow herd.
After lunch on site, Dr Edward O Riordan explained the strategies and findings from the bull beef production system and famers took a keen interest in this system, particular the rations being fed.
Dr. Edward O Riordan explains the feeding system at Derrypatrick
The farmers had opportunity to see the both heifer and bull weanlings grazing in well managed paddock grazing systems, leaving many envious of the grassland management systems at Derrypatrick.
The day provided much food for thought as to how the farmers may implement new strategies in their farm enterprises in Donegal which will enable them to achieve sustainable farm incomes.
Rural Enterprise Skillnet would like to thank Dr Edward O Riordan for facilitating this training event.
RES members inspect grassland at Derrypatrick