Michael Dillane

Address: Liscullane, Lixnaw, Co. Kerry

Farm Size: 59 ha all owned

Soil type: 60% heavy, peaty gley soil type

Farming system: Suckler to weanling/finish- 80% autumn/winter calving. 100% AI usage

Farm plan: To achieve a gross margin of €850/ha by 2016. This will be done by increasing output, focusing on increasing gain from grassland management and improving herd health. The aim is to increase cow numbers from 67 to 100 and move from selling all weanlings to selling only export quality weanlings and finishing remainder of bulls at 16 months and heifers at 20-22 months. Replacements will be bred on farm using maternal sires. This farm will aim to demonstrate best practices for suckling on heavy land.