Offaly farm top milk production
A County Offaly farming couple have been speaking about their experience after installing a new 10 tonne V-Mac silo from McAree Engineering in Monaghan.
Maria and Padraig Keane took over the family farm at Ballywilliam, Kilcormac, Co. Offaly.
The family farm was originally purchased by Padraig’s parents (John and Gertrude) in the 90’s.
It was originally a dry stock and tillage farm before becoming a suckler farm with Angus and Hereford stock.
Pádraig converted the farm to milk production in 2013 with a 200,000 litres New Entrant Quota. He started with 45 in-calf heifers and today they milk 140 cows.
The High EBI herd is 2/3 Holstein Friesian and 1/3 Jersey and Norwegian Red cross breeds. They average 5,800L/cow and supplied 520kgMS/cow to Glanbia Co-op in 2019.
Their spring calving herd is milk recorded and they operate a 10 week breeding season. Cows are milked in a 20 unit herringbone parlour, and they use an ACR system and lightweight clusters. Milking takes 1.5 to two hours and it is usually a two person operation. Cows are fed 0.6 to 1.2 tonnes of dairy nuts pa depending on grass growth and weather conditions.
Their feed target is 0.5 tonnes/cow pa if they can produce more milk from grass assuming good weather conditions for growth and grazing.
Their current milking platform is 120 acres which is 50/50 owned/leased. The overall stocking rate is 2.5 livestock units per Ha. Cows are on grass for around 280 days pa and are supplemented by Zero grazing from an out farm when grass is scarce during a drought or when grazing conditions are poor.
Padraig has built a new cubicle house and has installed excellent handling facilities for AI and hoof care. A robotic scraper is used to clean the cubicle house.
They make great use of local agri contracting services and their baled silage is made by John Egan, Alan and Dara Bulfsin from AB Contracting Services.
When they started dairying five years ago they installed a new 10 tonne V-Mac silo from McAree Engineering. Padraig checked around with members of their discussion groups to get their valued opinions and they recommended the V –Mac silos.
According to Padraig: “They were not the cheapest but were the best value for money due to their being trouble free and long life. Since we installed the McAree silo we never had to look at it. We clean it out every so often and the 6” side spout at the bottom of the cone is very handy for filing a meal barrow if we want to feed other stock.
“When we ordered the feed silo, the McAree team advised us on preparing the concrete base. After about two weeks when the concrete was cured the bin was erected in less than two hours.
“So we are very happy with our decision to deal with McAree Engineering.”