Winners of the Sustainable Farmer Awards 2023
The Sustainable Farmer Awards are a partnership between the FBD National Livestock Show, Bord Bia, Teagasc and the Irish Farmers’ Journal. Sixteen finalists were selected from over 54,000 members of the Sustainable Beef and Lamb Assurance Scheme (SBLAS), with judging taking place this summer. Judges assessed each of the farms based upon the following criteria:
- measures to reduce carbon footprint;
- livestock performance;
- farmland biodiversity and space for nature;
- water quality and conservation;
- forage and feed management;
- Quality Assurance and market awareness;
- local community participation e.g knowledge transfer activities.
Beef Finisher Award: Samuel Hill
Photo credit: Alfie Shaw
Samuel Hill from Shercock, Co. Cavan, won the Beef Finisher Award at the Sustainable Farmer Awards hosted at this year's Tullamore Show.
Farm Profile
- Cattle & tillage enterprise
- Finishing cattle year round
- Stores purchased at 400-500kg
- Focus on meeting market requirements
Animal performance:
- Cattle finished over 70-90 day period
- Daily gain targets:
- 6kg for continentals
- 3-1.4kg for traditional breeds
- Routine cattle weighing
- Home grown grain & straw fed
Herd health:
- Stores vaccinated for IBR on arrival
- Cattle kept separate for 1st week
- Fed hay on arrival
Manure Management
- Slurry spread using a dribble bar
- Some exported to local farmers
- Regular soil testing to optimise fertility
Nature
- Strong attention to field margins & buffer zones
- Focus on hedgerows, native trees & watercourse
Space for Nature
- Allocated 16% of farm space to nature.
Carbon Footprint
- 18% lower carbon footprint than average farms.
Suckler to Weanling Award: Margaret and Jack Stevenson
Photo credit: Alfie Shaw
Margaret Stevenson and her son Jack from Castlefin, County Donegal, won the Suckler to Weanling Award at the Sustainable Farmer Awards hosted at this year’s Tullamore Show.
Farm Profile
- Sucklers & sheep
- Limousin, Anus and Simmental X Friesian
- Terminal sire Charolais bull
- SCEP participant
Herd Health
- Cows vaccinated against BVD, Lepto & Scour
- Regular faecal sampling
- Condition scoring
Grassland Management
- Strong paddock infrastructure
- Cattle & sheep combine to manage grass quality
Animal performance
- Bulls gaining 1.47/kg per day
- Heifers averaging 1.32kg daily gain
- Regular weighing
Soil fertility
- Protected UREA used
- Regular soil testing
Suckler to Beef Award: Vincent Keane
Photo credit: Alfie Shaw
Vincent Keane from Kinvara, County Galway, won the Suckler to Beef Award at the Sustainable Farmer Awards hosted at this year’s Tullamore Show.
Farm Profile
- Mix of lowland and burren winterage
- 106 sucklers and 220 ewes
- Cows outwintered on Burren
- SCEP & ACRES co-operation scheme
Herd performance
- Four-and five-star replacements to improve milk and fertility.
- Aim to finish steers at 24 months and heifer 22 months.
- Regular weighing
- Cows housed four weeks before calving
Grassland Management
- Regular soil testing to manage fertility.
- Burren mix fertiliser used.
Herd Health
- Vaccinated programme
- Cows for scour
- Calves for clostridial disease
- Regular faecal sampling
Manure Management
- Slurry spread using a dribble bar
- Half spread in spring/early summer
Biodiversity
- Burren Life participant for 13 years
- Watercourses fenced off
- Fern and furze management programme
Space for Nature
- Allocated 45% of farm space to nature
Carbon Footprint
- 6% lower carbon footprint than average farms
Lamb Producer Award: PJ Finnerty
Photo credits: Alfie Shaw
PJ Finnerty from Bridewell, County Roscommon won the Lamb Producer Award at the Sustainable Farmer Awards hosted at this year’s Tullamore Show.
Farm Profile
- Mid season flock with 500 ewes
- Replacement bred on farm
- 80 store cattle purchased to finish
- Focus on market specifications
Flock Health
- Faecal sampling in summer
- Ewes and lambs vaccinated for clostridial disease
- Mature ewes never dosed
Grassland Management
- Farm split into small paddocks
- Manage to keep quality grass in front of cattle.
- 10 acres reseeded annually with grass/clover mix.
Flock Performance
- Cattle and sheep grazed together to maximise weight gain
- 9 lambs per ewe scanned.
- No meal fed to lamb’s pre-weanling.
- Regular drafting
Soil Fertility
- Regular soil testing
- Using protected UREA
- Slurry spread via dribble bar in early spring
Biodiversity
- Abundance of hedgerows and trees
Housing
- Sheep housed in December.
- Labour efficient shed set up
- Drinkers and feeders designed for one person management
Space for Nature
- Allocated 12% of farm space to nature.
Dairy Calf-to-Beef Award: Catriona and Joe O’Meara
Photo credit: Alfie Shaw
Catriona and Joe O’Meara from Camross, County Wexford, won the Dairy Calf-to-Beef Award at the Sustainable Farmer Awards hosted at this year’s Tullamore Show.
Farm Profile
- Four-week old calves bought in Spring
- Sourced from three local farms
- Angus and Hereford dairy crosses
- Grassland and forestry on farm
Animals Health
- Internasal IBR vaccination
- Regular faecal sampling
- Good herd health plan
Grassland Management
- Animals strip grazed in small groups.
- Calves grouped based on sex and weight.
Finishing weight
- Cattle finished at 23-25 months.
- Finished on silage and meal.
Soil Fertility
- Regular soil testing
- Protected urea on silage ground
Biodiversity
- ACRES participant
- Native trees
- Extensive grazing
- Low input permanent pasture
Space for Nature
- Allocated 14% of farm space to nature.
Carbon Footprint
- 8% lower carbon footprint than average farms.