Striking a balance between suckler farming and off-farm work commitments
Limited economic returns have forced many of the current generation of Irish beef farmers to seek off-farm employment. By allocating the majority of their working time elsewhere, beef farming has become an early morning, late evening and weekend activity for many.
Despite the draws of working off farm, there is no reason why a part-time beef enterprise can’t be profitable – providing a supplementary source of income when operated in an efficient and productive manner.
One example of a farmer operating to this blueprint is Aonghusa Fahy, a secondary school teacher by trade and a part-time suckler farmer from Ardrahan, Co. Galway. Aonghusa - a participant in Teagasc’s flagship suckler demonstration programme, the Future Beef Farm Programme - has developed and continues to refine an efficient suckler farming system.
Centred on a herd of 21 suckler cows, the use of the latest technologies and a firm focus on efficiency drivers ensures that Aonghusa’s farming endeavours generate a financial reward for the time allocated.
Some of the technologies utilised include: grassland measurement and budgeting; an increased focus on AI to improve the terminal and replacement characteristics of the progeny produced – as witnessed by the many visitors to the Teagasc exhibit at the National Ploughing Championships last week, where a heifer and steer from Aonghusa’s herd were displayed; and the use of the MooHeat heat detection system to enable AI usage and to carefully plan due dates for cows and heifers in the herd.
On Friday, September 27 at 3pm, other beef farmers will have the opportunity to visit Aonghusa Fahy’s farm to learn how he balances both on-farm and off-farm work commitments. The focus of this Future Beef Farm Programme Walk is ‘Getting Winter Ready’, and the topics to be covered include housing requirements, winter nutrition, animal health and water quality, with Aonghusa sharing insights on the importance of each to his farming system. Aonghusa will be joined by Teagasc Specialists and Advisors to offer key advice to get your farm ready for the winter approaching.
The farm walk will take place on Friday, September 27 at 3pm on the farm of Aonghusa Fahy, Tullira, Ardrahan, Co. Galway, H91 TPD2.