Michael O’Gorman

Lisdowney Co. Kilkenny

My name is Michael O’Gorman and I live in Lisdowney Co. Kilkenny.

On my farm I run calf to beef and most of my cattle are Herefords. I generally buy my calves in the first week or two of March and then I keep them and feed them for two years.

For the last number of years I have bought my calves from a few different farmers, but this year I have narrowed that down to two farmers, whom I know will give me calves that I am happy with. I focus on reseeding regularly on my farm. I have sown red clover for the last number of years. Last year I finished my first lot of cattle on red clover and I was really, really happy with the results I got. So this year I have planted red clover on an extra five acres. It drastically reduces the amount of fertilizer that I need to spread. I am happy to say that I have reduced my fertilizer use by around 20 to 30 percent this year, simply by using red clover.

My two sons, Conor and Liam are a big help to me, especially at sileage time, because we mow our own sileage and we ted our own sileage. I like to have that control, because I can cut it when I want and when I feel the time is right. We get a contractor in to bale it and then the two lads bring in the bales and stack them. We usually make about sixty to eighty bales and working together we can get them in within two to three hours. The job gets done very quickly when you have the extra bit of help.

80 percent of the calves I bought this year are Hereford and next year I will probably buy 100 percent Hereford

I definitely see Herefords in my future, 80 percent of the calves I bought this year are Hereford and next year I will probably buy 100 percent Hereford. I weigh my calves on a regular basis throughout their lives and the average daily weight gains I can get from Herefords, for the price that I buy them at, means that it is the perfect system for me.