Denis O’Brien

Rahara, Athleague, Co Roscommon

  • System: suckler to weanling.
  • Cow number: 29.
  • Herd replacement index: €107.
  • Breeds: Continental; mainly Charolais, Limousin and Simmental.
  • Calving interval: 366.
  • Mortality at birth: 3.4%.
  • Calves/cow/year: 1.
  • Heifers calved at 22 to 26 months: 75%.
  • AI-sired calves: 100%.
  • Denis O’Brien is farming suckler cows and sheep, full-time, on good-quality, limestone land near Athleague in Co Roscommon. His suckler herd currently consists of 29 cows, all of which are due to begin calving in March for a total of eight weeks.

    The ewes will start lambing from early February. Denis’s herd is an exceptionally well-bred collection of purely continental cows containing a mix of Charolais, Limousin and Simmental breeding.

    Denis says they are the most suitable for his suckler system – weanlings. Though 100% AI, Denis uses a high proportion of Charolais sires to breed a high-value weanling for sale in Roscommon Mart in the autumn.

    “Despite all of the talk, I was quite happy with how I got on with the weanlings this year,” he said.

    Denis breeds his maiden heifers to Limousin sires, but he also breeds a few of his best cows to high maternal Limousin and Simmental sires in order to bring through his own replacements. The attention placed on high-quality suckler breeding for the last number of years has resulted in a high-performing suckler herd, not just on the ground, but on paper too.

    Denis has the second highest herd replacement index of the commercial finalists at €107.

    He is also only one of two farmers to operate 100% AI.

    Other textbook figures include a 366-day calving interval and a strong calf/cow/year rate of one. When on the farm, the competition judges were also impressed with Denis’s attitude towards health and safety.

    Shane and Grainne Keaveney

    Coosaun, Ballinlough, Co Roscommon

  • System: suckler to beef.
  • Cow number: 32.
  • Herd replacement index: €101.
  • Breeds: Salers and Limousin cows bred with Salers and Limousin sires.
  • Calving interval: 356.
  • Mortality at birth: 0%.
  • Calves/cow/year: 1.03.
  • Heifers calved at 22 to 26 months: 100%.
  • AI-sired calves: 14%.
  • Shane and Grainne Keaveney, along with their children Aaron, Neil and Annie, farm a typical west of Ireland farm just outside Ballinlough, Co Roscommon. The farm consists of 70 acres of grass and 25 acres of forestry split across three blocks.

    The plan is to get cow numbers to 35. The suckler enterprise is relatively new with Shane taking over the farm in 2014. All males are finished as under 16-month bulls with any excess females sold for breeding.

    Shane is a member of Charlie Devaney’s local grass group and finds the group beneficial to help manage grass on his farm. Suckler breed type are Limousin and Salers cows bred back to a Limousin and Salers bull.

    For the first few years, Shane concentrated on getting cow type right. Shane’s first Salers stock bull was by Lataster Ivan and he has left a lot of good cows in the herd. The current Limousin bull on the farm is by ZAG.

    Cattle are weighed regularly on the farm and weight gains of 1.8kg/day have been achieved with the male progeny at the ad-lib meal feeding stage.

    Shane and Grainne use the farm as a social farming unit and regular have visitors to help out and work on the farm. “It’s our way of giving something back to the community and it’s also an extra little income stream for the farm.”

    Forty-five acres of the farm (64%) have been reseeded over the past five years and a new slatted shed was also erected to house the suckler cows. The Keaveneys are calving everything at 24 months. “I just couldn’t contemplate feeding a heifer for three winters here before I had a calf out of her.”

    James Strain

    Burnfoot, Co Donegal

  • System: suckler to stores/beef.
  • Cow number: 35.
  • Herd replacement index: €101.
  • Breeds: Continental, Limousin, Simmental and Charolais.
  • Calving interval: 363.
  • Mortality at 28 days: 8.5%.
  • Calves/cow/year: 0.92.
  • Heifers calved at 22 to 26 months: 80%.
  • AI-sired calves: 54%.
  • James Strain farms a 60acre suckler to weaning farm just outside Burnfoot, Co Donegal.

    Land type would be good to heavy in places. Cow type is a continental mix of Limousin, Charolais and Simmental with some Salers blood also being introduced.

    James is increasing his AI usage and runs a Charolais stock bull going back to Major breeding.

    AI bulls used in the past include Whitecliffe James and Tomschoice Jet. The Salers bull Drumlegagh Dennis has been used to breed replacements. There is a focus on breeding higher replacement index heifers on an annual basis.

    A bigger use of AI is planned for the future. The herd is moving back to calve from November to January, finishing bulls as under 16-month bull beef and selling heifers at the store stage of 14 to 16 months each April.

    “We moved to selling our heifers as stores because we feel that if we get them out early and some cheap weight on them from February to April we can get them away at good money to summer grazers up here.

    Last year, we averaged €2.58/kg for 450kg heifers. Bringing the bull’s straight to finish also means we are capitalising fully on the genetics we are using” James said.

    James is a participant in BDGP, BEAM, BEEP and GLAS. James weighs stock three times a year – at turnout, mid-season and housing – to assess cow performance. Store lambs are purchased in to graze over the winter months.