Plans unveiled for Spring walk
No stranger to hosting farm walks Artie’s farm, situated in the heart of the Ards Peninsula consists of 170 spring block calving suckler cows with all progeny finished with a strong focus on AI.
He mainly utilises Simmental, Limousin and Charolais genetics with all replacements calving at 24 months, with only two sweeper bulls required on the farm.
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Hide AdTypically 40 heifers are synchronised and AI’d to an easy calving maternal Simmental sire with the aim of introducing new bloodlines for future replacements. All beef produced on the Birt Farm is supplied to the ABP Food Group.
Artie has been involved with both AFBI and Teagasc in a recently completed two year research trial on benefits of “AI and synchronisation” in herd management, and is still involved in ongoing trials with AFBI on a similar theme. Artie has also participated in research on paddock grazing and aims to reseed 10% of the farm annually.
He has also had the Sainsbury’s Carbon Footprint audit carried out for the past seven years.
Artie recently delivered a presentation at the Teagasc National Beef Conference in Athlone on ‘Optimising use of AI in the suckler herd’.
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Hide AdWhen not farming Artie finds time to sit on the Sainbury’s beef steering group which meets four to five times a year as well as being the area co-ordinator for his local buyer group. Artie’s commitment to progressive and efficient farming techniques paid off last year when he was awarded the 2015 ‘NI Beef Farmer of the Year’.
A buffet supper followed by the AGM will take place at the Saltwater Brig, Kircubbin. The buffet will cost £10.
If you are interested in attending can you please inform Jackie McCann (028 9442 6725) stating whether or not you will be staying for the buffet.