| This is a BTAP approved event and farmers can sign in on the day to comply with this programme.
It will be signposted from Kells and the N52 from Ardee. The farm is located on the Carlanstown-Nobber Road. The GPS co-ordinates are 53.798041,-6.807979.
Tom Halpin joined the BETTER farm programme in 2012. With the help of his Teagasc advisors Ned Heffernan and Peter Lawrence he has made steady progress towards the target of achieving €1000/Ha Gross Margin within 3 years of joining the programme. Tom farms 63Ha (155 acres) and runs a suckling to weanling system with 90 cows calving in the 2014 calving period. Calving takes place in Feb/Mar and June/July. Cows are mainly Limousin/Simmental cross with a terminal sire Charolais bull used to produce top quality weanlings. His weanlings are either sold for export or to a feedlot for finishing.
Topics which will be covered on the day include:
The Halpin Farm System and Farm Plan – “How to increase output in a weanling system”
Grassland Management – “Paddocking my farm”
Sire Choice and Weanling Markets – “The €1,000/Ha Gross Margin challenge”
Herd Health – “A Healthy Suckler Herd”
Breeding and Genetics – “The ideal suckler cow for a weanling system”
A full range of stock will be on display.
Farmers are asked to arrive at either 2pm or 6pm as only two farm tours will take place.
BETTER farm programme manager, Adam Woods says “The open day affords farmers an excellent opportunity to see a well run suckler to weanling system. Tom has an excellent cow base from which he is consistently producing top quality weanlings suitable for feedlot finishing or export. Simple changes have been made on this farm to increase profitability and these changes could be made on any farm in the country”.
Food and refreshments will be available and all are welcome.
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