Beef Enterprise
The aim of the suckler and beef unit is to serve to educate and equip students with the necessary practical, technical and financial skills for running sustainable drystock businesses.
Here we have Peter Grogan, Lecturer speaking about our beef enterprises at the College
Gurteen College Beef Enterprises - YouTube
There are 40 spring / 30 autumn suckling to beef and calf to beef animals
- Stocking rate 2.35ul/ha
- Land base 93 (adj. ha)
- Cows calving – Spring 40
- Male progeny (Spring born) 50% Finished, 50% sold sales ring
- Female progeny (Spring born) Finished to beef
- Cows Calving – Autumn 30
- Male progeny (Autumn born) Finished under 16 months
- Female progeny (Autumn born) Finished to beef.
Breeding Policy: Short gestation five-star AI bulls are used in the dairy herd for three weeks to breed replacements to sell to the suckler herd. Terminal sire Charolais is used for suckler cow breeding and Limousin/Angus are used on the heifers.
Diet: Paddocks measured weekly using ‘ pasture base Ireland’ and rotational mixed grazing with sheep flock. 75% DMD silage is targeted and concentrates are input as required.
All dairy replacements are reared by the beef unit using a contract rearing agreement.
Health Plan Vaccinations, Leptospirosis, IBR, Rotavirus
Housing: 200 animal slatted shed beef unit and 70 size cow and progeny suckler shed.