On Saturday 6th October, a bus load of MED members paid a very enjoyable and interesting visit to the farm of Thomas Moorehead, Focus Farmer, outside Ballymena, Co Antrim. Bus transport departed Ballyshannon at7.45am and arrived at Thomas Moorhead’s farm at approx 11.00am. Situated at the foothills of Slemish Mountain, Thomas farms 400 acres approx, 100 acres owned, 150 acres taken in conacre and 150 acres of mountain also taken in conacre.
The main herd consists of 130 cows, mainly Limousin, Angus and Simmental cross and has no overall breed preference but his cow must be a quality type suckler cow able to produce a quality weanling per year.
He purchases his bulls reliant on high EBV figures to produce his quality weanlings and uses Angus and Simmental bulls to produce his own replacements.
Thomas has a calving interval of 390 days with his calving spread from March to May, he would like to calve earlier but due to disease problems (pneumonia and scour) he is unable to achieve this. All heifers are calved at 24-27 months and a batch of heifers have been synchronized and A I’d in June and all heifers and cows not in calf after second service are destined for beef production. All male calves are kept entire and finished as bull beef with access to straw beds.
MED members spent an interesting and informative three and a half hours on the farm walk and in discussion with Thomas, who was very open to questions. The ideal autumn weather meant that the tour of the farm took place in dry sunny conditions, which also allowed Thomas to demonstrate the improvements he is making to his soil on an ongoing basis. He places great emphasis on soil aeration and grassland management. He availed of every opportunity to point this out and much discussion revolved around his methods. Thomas pays particular attention to grassland management and reseeds by stitching, mintill and seed application through slurry as quite a large amount of his land does not suit conventional ploughing due to underlying stones and he urged the group to get air into their soil by whatever method best suited their area.
His farm is in an Environmental Sensitive Area and he has planted new hedges and stone walls and old farm buildings have been restored under Countryside Management. He has invested heavily in the construction of many farm buildings over the years, and improved his farm greatly. Maximum use of grants was made to construct slurry storage, some of which have since been roofed over.
Thomas has a flock of sheep consisting of 80 early lambing and 100 spring lambing ewes but much of the management of the flock is his son’s responsibility.
The group wish to acknowledge the kind hospitality shown by Thomas and his family during the visit and appreciate the frank and forthcoming discussion participated in by all.
Members had an excellent and very welcome lunch in Maghera, Co.Derry, and were home in Ballyshannon approx.6.30pm, in time to have Jim go on the rampage as a Celtic Warrior in the Annual Bluestacks Festival Carnival.
MED Partnership would like to thank Committee members Pat Johnston and Francis Flanagan for their great efforts in organising the trip.
MED Partnership Group would also like to thank the Vaughan Trust for their help and support without which our trip would not have been possible.
Farm Owner Thomas Moorhead
Thomas makes his point to MED members
MED members taking a keen interest
One of Thomas's silage pits
Some of Thomas's prime herd
Some more of his prime cattle
Thomas in discussion with MED members during a tea break
Thomas making a point about soil aeration
Thomas answering questions from MED members
View of state of the art cattle shed