Clonakilty College

Farm Size: College Drystock unit comprises of 28.9 ha

Soil Type: Soil type on the unit varies from free to moderate draining

Farm System: Spring calving suckler herd comprising of 32 mostly Simmental cows. First 5-6 cows are inseminated with Belgian Blue or Charolais to provide a mix of cattle for student practicals and a Limousin stock bull is then released with the cows. Heifers from the milkier cows are kept as replacements. Maiden heifers are inseminated to easy calving Limousin. All male progeny are castrated and along with heifers not kept as replacements are finished at 24 months. A flock of 55 Texel and Suffolk cross ewes are run alongside the cattle on the unit.

Farm Plan: To achieve a high liveweight output per hectare by maximising animal performance and having a high stocking rate thus improving the unit’s gross margin to €1000/ha. By using the latest grassland management skills, it will ensure that there will be a plentiful supply of highly digestible grazed grass in the animal’s diet and a long grazing season from late February to November.