Shane and John P Fitzgerald - Portlaw East, Co. Waterford

Go To: Current farm Update | View photo gallery

• Shane and his father, John are farming 92Ha near Portlaw, Co. Waterford, of which 30Ha is leased.
• They are currently milking 200 cows. The plan is to milk 210 cows.
• The calving interval for the herd is 371 days with a six week calving rate of 88%.

Fodder Budget 

Video below gives an insight into Steven's grassland field margins which enhances biodiversity.

Current Farm Update

Shane Fitzgerald Farm 2023

             Portlaw figures 15th May

Fat%-4.11

Milk-28.8

Protein%-3.52

Milk Solids-2.2

AFC-908

Addition info   

1. Grazing got tricky after 13mls fell Sun 7th & 30mls Tue 9th   

2. We had to avoid the high clover fields & target the drier paddocks     

3. Breeding is going well, 60% of the cows & 75% of the heifers done 

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Photos from the farm 

These are a series of photos taken on Shane Fitzgerald's farm throughout the year focusing on  the biodiversity present on their Farm but also on improvment's made in this area.

Multi species sward

Last year a multi species sward of chicory, plantain, perennial rye grass and white clover was put in A 1.5 metre margin from the old grass sward and was retained at the time of reseeding. This is a biodiversity margin which all Farmers are encouraged to keep while reseeding.

Wildflower cover

A wildflower cover was spread along the clay banks at the side of the new slatted cubicle shed which now provides a haven for bees, insects and small mammals. It is also adjacent to the two new bee hives that were installed on the Farm.

Whooper swans

Lastly we have photos of of the Whooper swans that graze some of the grass paddocks on the Farm. This occurs from mid-October when the birds migrate from Iceland to Ireland. Many swans Winter at this same site on Shanes farm each year.