Patrick Dunne
| Farmer | Patrick Dunne |
|---|---|
| Location | Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow |
| Farm Description | Hill grazing (280 ha) on commonage along with 56 ha of green land. Runs both hill and lowland sheep enterprises as well as a suckler cow beef enterprise. |
| Teagasc Advisor | Declan Byrne |
Farm Plan
A detailed farm plan was drawn up for the farm and reviewed annually. A summary of details of the plan are laid out below:
Breeding policy
- Use performance recorded rams
- Record mating information – single sire mating on proportion of the flock
- Use a terminal sire on 30% of the flock
- All lambs tagged at birth
- Target output 1.20 lambs weaned/ewe joined
Flock management
- Plan to lamb between 300-350 Cheviot ewes for the hill
- Aiming to reduce running costs for hill flock
- Increase time Cheviot ewes are spending on the hill
- Thin ewes being separated in mid-September for preferential feeding
Grazing management
- Soil fertility being addressed on enclosed land
- Targeted fertilizer use on enclosed ground
- Options being discussed for improving management of hill vegetation
Health
- Implement flock health plan