Caroline Walsh

Caroline farms in Ballinascarthy, Co. Cork milking about 70 cows on a 20 ha milking platform.

She is reducing cow numbers slightly and will be stocked at 3.2 LU/ha this year.

Caroline aims to make a similar profit level from the farm as less inputs are required. Heifers are contract reared and silage comes from outblocks.

Caroline’s husband Joe along with his father and brother run a contracting business and they lend a hand during busy periods.

Caroline began measuring grass in 2015, and in 2020 her farm grew 14.2 T DM/ha (drought in June) with her cows producing 500 kg MS per cow (supplied to Lisavaird Coop) from 850 kg meal.

In 2019, the farm grew over 16 T DM/ha and achieved 10 grazings per paddock. She has invested heavily in grazing infrastructure so she can get cows out from early February to mid-November.

Caroline is involved in her local Grass10 grazing course.