Patrick Drohan

Address: Scrahan, Kilmacthomas, Co. Waterford

Farm Size: 46 adj. Ha all owned (divided into 3 blocks)

Soil type: Clonroche series soil (Fine loamy drift with siliceous stones) - Free draining farm suitable for early turn-out in spring

Farming system: Spring calving suckler to store/finish

Farm plan: To achieve a gross margin close to €800-900/ha by 2016. This will be done by increasing stocking rate and output focusing on increasing animal performance from grazed grass and improving cow milk yield. The aim is to increase cow numbers from 35 to 60. Replacements will be bred on farm using a Simmental stock bull with good maternal traits. Females not retained for breeding will be sold as stores at 18 months of age or finished at 20 months off grass. Male calves are castrated by rubber banding after birth and are sold as 18 month store bullocks. Farm is undergoing a reseeding programme.

This farm will demonstrate expanding the suckler herd and focussing on maximising animal live weight gain from grazed grass.