On his farm in Co. Tipperary, Irish Hereford Prime farmer member Dwayne Stanley is investing for the future, developing a calf-to-beef system built around efficiency, animal performance and the proven qualities of the Hereford breed.
Dwayne purchases dairy-beef calves each spring and brings them through to finish, alongside a suckler enterprise that includes both spring and autumn calving cows. To support the continued growth of the business, he recently completed a major investment in a new purpose-built calf shed with capacity for up to 120 calves.
The project was carefully planned, with Dwayne visiting a number of farms before construction began to gather ideas and identify practical features that would improve day-to-day management. Particular attention was given to ventilation, calf comfort and labour efficiency.
At the heart of the new facility is an automated calf feeding system that allows calves to feed little and often while providing valuable performance data. The system uses a simple traffic-light monitoring approach, allowing Dwayne to quickly identify calves that are thriving and those that may require attention.
“The main thing is the calf is involved and it’s not stressed,” says Dwayne. “It’s fed when it wants to be fed.”
The benefits are already evident. Healthy, content calves are a key indicator that the system is working well.
“You come in here in the morning and you can see they’re happy, they’re jumping around, they’re playing and when a calf is like that, you know they’re thriving,” he explains.
Hereford genetics continue to play a central role in the enterprise. While Dwayne previously sourced calves through marts, he now works closely with a small number of trusted local dairy farmers. These long-standing relationships allow him to have greater input into sire selection and ensure a consistent supply of quality Hereford-cross calves.
The Hereford breed remains his preferred choice due to its docility, ease of management and overall performance.
“They’re just so docile and when you’re managing them, dosing them or handling them, they’re a pleasure to work with,” says Dwayne. “When they’re out grazing during the summer and you look across the field and see all the white heads, it’s something special. There’s no other breed that stands out like that.”
Looking ahead, Dwayne sees calf-to-beef production as a key part of the future of his farm business. The new calf shed represents a significant investment, but one he believes will help drive efficiency, improve calf performance and support future growth.
“It’s the kind of enterprise I want to lean on going forward,” he says. “I have absolutely no regrets about putting up the shed and I hope there’ll be plenty of calves going through it for years to come.”
Through careful planning, investment in infrastructure and a continued focus on quality Hereford genetics, Dwayne Stanley is building a system designed to deliver strong results today while preparing for the opportunities of tomorrow.
