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Johnstown Farm

Johnstown Farm Update: 5th October 2020 (PDF)

Johnstown Castle Dairy unit specialising in winter milk research is located 5km from Wexford Town in the South East of Ireland, Eircode Y35 FN73. It forms part of the Johnstown Castle Estate, where the main centre for the Teagasc Environment programme is located; also on the estate is the EPA headquarters, Dept of Agriculture offices along with a substantial beef research farm. The Johnstown Herd was established in 2003 to provide a base for winter milk systems research in Teagasc.

Dairy Farm Manager: Aidan Lawless 

Location: Latitude 52°17’N, Longitude 06°30’W, Eircode Y35 FN73. Elevation 55m

Area: 70 Ha consisting of  50ha experimental area, for milking herds a further 20ha used for environmental experiments & rearing of replacements 

Soil Type: The distribution pattern of the soils within Johnstown Castle dairy farm is complex, due to the intricate pattern of the drift deposits from which the soils are derived. The soils range from reasonably free draining Brown Earths to soil with moderate or poor drainage capacity such as gley soils.

Paddocks: 58 paddocks, with further sub-division options

Milking Cows: 140 - 130 on current experiment, plus reserves. Numbers subject to scientific protocol

System: Approx. 65% of the herd are autumn-calving. The calving season typically commences in late September and continues for 11-12 weeks. Cows are housed when target closing farm pasture cover is reached, or as dictated by weather conditions. The indoor feeding programme varies according to treatment, ranging from grass silage, to a total mixed diet incorporating grass silage, maize silage and concentrate. Target Spring turnout date is the 1st February with pasture allowance being determined by spring rotation planner in conjunction with weekly farm covers. All male calves are sold externally or to the Johnstown beef unit, typically at 3 weeks of age, while the heifer calves are reared on a separate section of the farm

Dairy Building Infrastructure

  • Milking parlour: 18 unit herring bone with ACR and auto ID
  • Winter accommodation- 166-space cubicle shed in 8 divisions 
  • Straw bedded calving pens and calf rearing shed
  • Silage pits x 8

Farm Map

Milking Cows: 140 - 130 on current experiment, plus reserves. Numbers subject to scientific protocol

System: Approx. 65% of the herd are autumn-calving. The calving season typically commences in late September and continues for 11-12 weeks. Cows are housed when target closing farm pasture cover is reached, or as dictated by weather conditions. The indoor feeding programme varies according to treatment, ranging from grass silage, to a total mixed diet incorporating grass silage, maize silage and concentrate. Target Spring turnout date is the 1st February with pasture allowance being determined by spring rotation planner in conjunction with weekly farm covers. All male calves are sold externally or to the Johnstown beef unit, typically at 3 weeks of age, while the heifer calves are reared on a separate section of the farm.

Dairy Farm Manager: Aidan Lawless, Teagasc Johnstown Castle, Co. Wexford 

 

Current Experiment 2016 - 2018 

A comparison of milk production profiles and feed budgets for winter milk systems based on varying proportions of autumn calving.

The objective of this experiment is to establish milk supply profiles and detailed feed budgets for these systems and then to determine the economics of these supply profile, both at farm production level and processor level

Farm Updates

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

 
 
Farm Updates 2015
December JCY_151214        
November JCY_151130 JCY_151123 JCY_151116 JCY_151109 JCY_151102
October JCY_151026 JCY_151019 JCY_151013 JCY_151005  
September JCY_150928 JCY_150921 JCY_150914 JCY_150907  
August JCY_150831 JCY_150824 JCY_150817    
July JCY_150727 JCY_150720 JCY_150713 JCY_150706  
June JCY_150629 JCY_150622 JCY_150615 JCY_150608 JCY_150601
May JCY_150525 JCY_150518 JCY_150511 JCY_150504  
April JCY_150427 JCY_150420 JCY_150413 JCY_150407  
March JCY_150330        
Farm Updates 2014
August JCY_140819      
June JCY_140626      
May JCY_140522      
April JCY_140406      
March JCY_140304      

  

Farm Updates 2013
December JCY_131201      
October JCY_131025      
September JCY_130915      
August JCY_130817      
July JCY_130715      
June JCY_130623 JCY_130602    
May JCY_130505      

 

Farm Updates 2012
November JCY_121118      
August JCY_120805      
June JCY_120624      
May JCY_120528      
April JCY_120430 JCY_120408    
March JCY_120318 JCY_120304    
January JCY_120129 JCY_120115    

 

Farm Updates 2011
August JCY_110807      
July JCY_110724 JCY_110710    
June JCY_110619      
May JCY_110528 JCY_110501    
April JCY_110417      
March JCY_110320 JCY_110306    
February JCY_110213      
January JCY_110130 JCY_110123 JCY_110109  
Farm Updates 2010
December JCY_101205  
November JCY_101121 JCY_101114
October JCY_101031

 

 

Farm Updates 2011
August JCY_110807      
July JCY_110724 JCY_110710    
June JCY_110619      
May JCY_110528 JCY_110501    
April JCY_110417      
March JCY_110320 JCY_110306    
February JCY_110213      
January JCY_110130 JCY_110123 JCY_110109  
Farm Updates 2010
December JCY_101205  
November JCY_101121 JCY_101114
October JCY_101031  
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