Niall Patterson

Address: Carrigallen, Co. Leitrim

Teagasc Advisor: Thomas Coll

Farm Size: 32 ha

Farming system: The farm is largely situated in one block. The main focus is on calving 30 Limousin crossbred cows from November. A selection of cows are bred to AI Belgian blue and Limousin sires. The remaining cows are bred to the Limousin stock bull. All calves are targeted to the weanling market. The sheep enterprise on the farm combines favourably on the heavy soil type on the farm. Over the past number of years significant improvements have been carried out on the farm with drainage and reseeding.

Farm Plan: The aim is to increase output on the farm from grass. By focusing on grassland management and implementing a reseeding programme on the farm is essential to increase farm output. The sheep enterprise on the farm helps to utilise grass when ground conditions are poor. Ewe numbers are expected to further increase in order to achieve early grazing of stock on the farm in the spring. Selecting a replacement stock bull to breed maternal replacements in the future will improve efficiencies in the herd.