Chris McCarthy

Address: Crookedwood, Co.Westmeath

Teagasc Advisor: Paul Fox

Farm Size: 28 ha of relatively free-draining land

Farming system: Chris’s farm is situated entirely in one block. The focus is now solely on the spring-calving suckler herd consisting of 54 cows, targeting the weanling market. Chris sources his replacement breeding stock from known herds and purchases them just prior to calving. Cows are served with one of two Charollais stock bulls. Bull weanlings are sold at 10 months of age.

Farm Plan: With full-time employment off-farm, Chris is focused on labour efficiency on the farm. All time spent on the farm must be as productive as possible. Calving earlier and a more compact calving season, better grassland management are important for Chris to increase liveweight produced on the farm. Investing in a five-star terminal stock bull and purchasing quality replacement heifers will enable Chris to breed quality weanlings and significantly increase his gross margin.