Conor Greene

Farmer Profile: Conor Greene

Mullingar, Co. Westmeath

Teagasc Adviser: David Webster

Conor is farming 70ha of good quality land in Rathowen, Co. Westmeath. He buys Friesian calves and slaughters them at 30 months off grass with a small amount of concentrate. He reared 80 calves in 2014 and has vast experience of calf rearing. He comes from a dairying family and knows all the pitfalls associated with it. Conor has always slaughtered all his steers at 30 months. Through targeting more forward stock and getting them out to grass earlier Conor may get some bullocks away to the factory at 26 months in June at a higher beef price.

Grassland management is high on his priority list as well as continuing the reseeding programme. Conor returned from Australia two years ago to continue the calf to beef system and is already increasing stock numbers, putting in paddocks and water troughs. He has a computerised calf feeder which can feed 60 calves in a group. He will increase output on the farm by increasing the number of batches of calves reared and make more use of the computerised feeder. This will increase stocking rate and while reducing the variable costs will put more money in his pocket.