CAFRE to host ‘Profit from Pasture – Striving for Sustainability’ events

Grazed grass remains the cheapest form of feed available on beef and sheep farms.

Bill Harpur with CAFRE Beef and Sheep Advisers Rachel Megarrell and Faith Stewart discussing the use of red clover swards in reducing fertiliser use throughout the grazing season in preparation for the technical farm walk to be held on Bills farm.

Well managed grass swards help to maximise growth rates of beef cattle and lambs and helps meet the energy requirements of suckler cows during the breeding season. Maximising stock performance from grazed grass is also an excellent way to help reduce the carbon footprint on your farm.

Over the next four weeks College of Agriculture Food and Rural (CAFRE) beef and sheep advisers are hosting a series of farm walks under the theme of “Profit from Pasture – Striving for Sustainability” highlighting best practice on beef and sheep farms.

Four events will be held on Suckler beef farms and four events will be held on Sheep farms. During the farm walks the host farmers along with CAFRE Beef and Sheep Advisers will be demonstrating a range of grassland management and livestock technologies that are in place and their importance within profitable and sustainable beef and lamb production systems.

The walks will cover the management of grazed grass, introducing and managing grass clover swards, suckler cow fertility and the control of flock worm burdens, all essential elements of a sustainable sheep and beef systems. The farm walks will start at 7:30pm and farmers are invited to enrol for the events on the CAFRE website: www.cafre.ac.uk/events

Dates and venues for the events are outlined below:

Sheep Farm Walks:

Wednesday 26^th June – John Martin, Gordonall Farms, 93 Newtownards Road, Greyabbey, N’Ards, BT22 2QJ

Wednesday 3^rd July – William Egerton, 64 Dernavilt Road, Mullaghlass, Rosslea, Co Fermanagh, BT92 7FP

Monday 8^th July – Clement Lynch, 42 Tireighter Road, Park, Co Londonderry, BT47 4BD

Wednesday 10^th July – Paraic McNeill, 20 Millvale Road, Annaclone, Banbridge, BT32 5AG

Beef Farm Walks:

Monday 24^th June – Bill Harpur, 7 Ballymagarry Road, Portrush, Co Antrim, BT56 8NQ

Wednesday 3^rd July – David Wright, 58 Dyan Road, Caledon, Co Tyrone BT68 4XG

Friday 5^th July – Oliver McKenna, 12 Tulnafoile Road, Eskra, Co Tyrone

Friday 19^th July- Michael Griffith, Saintfield House Est, 71 Old Belfast Road, Ballynahinch, County Down, BT24 7EY 

CAFRE invites all farmers who have an interest in beef and sheep enterprise profitability and sustainability to come along for a very informative evening.

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