College Farm
There are 120 cows plus replacements on 50 hectares. The college herd which is spring calving is part of the Moorepark Dairy Research programme. The main focus of this programme is to improve grass growth and utilisation on heavy soils. Facilities include a modern 12 unit herringbone milking parlour with automatic drafting, slatted houses, an outdoor pad and calving and isolation boxes. A computerised management programme is used to facilitate record keeping.
The 60 cow suckler herd is spring calving which allow students to gain experience of calving and calf rearing. Replacements are reared and all other progeny is brought to beef.
There is a sheep flock of 200 ewes split into 80 to produce early fat lamb and 120 which are managed to lamb in mid-march to coincide with early grass. The sheep unit is equipped with excellent facilities including various types of housing and handling facilities.
There is a total of 120 cattle of various types and 60 are finished every year. The cattle are managed on a low cost system at a moderate stocking rate.
The farm includes 50 hectares of diverse woodlands which are used for the practical training of students who participate in the forestry courses which have been provided by the college since 1988.