Farm walk on sheep farm that focuses on profit from pasture

The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) is hosting a series of farm walks that aim to demonstrate a range of grassland management and livestock technologies that are in place and their importance within profitable and sustainable beef and lamb production systems.

Paraic McNeill and CAFRE Beef and Sheep Adviser, Jack Friar, discussing red clover for silage ahead of the farm walk on 10 July.

On Wednesday 10 July at 7:30pm, father and son, Seamus and Paraic McNeill will host a sheep focused meeting on their farm in Annaclone, Co. Down.

The main enterprise on the McNeill farm is the 230-ewe spring lambing flock. The focus in recent years has been on streamlining management and taking steps to improve grass performance across the farm. Steps taken include developing a rotational paddock grazing systems and introducing multi-species (MSS) and red clover swards.  The red clover swards were introduced as part of the current AgriSearch project “ZeroNsile”, looking into the feasibility and practicalities of producing silage without the use of manufactured nitrogen (N) fertiliser. 

Paraic is also part of the AgriSearch GrassCheck project, focusing on measuring and monitoring grass growth on a weekly basis, and the Beacon Farm Network, with a carbon footprint completed to help inform and developing an innovative, resilient, and sustainable farm system.  Until recently, the farm was involved in the NI Better Sheep Programme where the business seen its gross margin per hectare more than double from 2019 to 2022.

This is a great opportunity to come along and see a very efficient sheep production system. CAFRE Advisers will be present on the night to discuss the technologies and targets.

To find out more and register your place, please visit the CAFRE website. 

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