Members projects

Ray and Mary Dempsey have a suckler herd of 70 cows with all the calves being finished on farm and marketed directly to Dawn Meats. The farm also produces 200 breeding ewes for the local domestic market, and 13 hectares of spring barley which is traded with a local feed mill in return for livstock feed.
Ray explains: "We have established a good suckler herd capable of producing good beef cattle. We are finishing and selling our steers at under 30 months of age and aim to finish
heifers at less than 24 months of age. We run a Charolais bull with the cows and a Limousin bull with the replacement heifers, purchased from known herds of good husbandry and health status. We endeavour to make the best possible
use of grass over a 230-day grazing period. Our winter housing and cattle handling facilities are good. Animal welfare and health and safety are priorities on the farm. A vibrant beef industry is highly important to both agriculture and our national economy - being an island we have to export almost 90% of our cattle. Our climate provides excellent grass production which allows us to produce high-quality beef from grass or grass silage plus grain produced on Irish farms. We feel privileged that Dawn Meats nominated our farm, and to be selected by McDonald’s to participate in their Flagship Farm Project is an honour. There is also a personal sense of achievement as over the years we have worked hard in our farming business to achieve and maintain a good standard of beef production, recognising the requirements of the consumer and their expectations of traceability and animal welfare."

The farm is a member The Beef Quality Assurance Scheme operated by Bord Bia, which is kept under review to ensure that it continues to reflect the emerging requirements of the marketplace, and involves the farmer, the beef plant and
participating customers. Participating farmers must abide by a code of practice covering the following issues:
1. Farmers must register calves under the Animal Events system operated by ICBF, and provide details of calves born, along with a calving survey.
2. Disbudding within 3 weeks, and use of a local anaesthetic over 2 weeks of age.
3. Castration must avoid weaning time.
4. Minimum calving age at 24 months for heifers.
5. Feed must be offered 4 weeks before, and 2 weeks after weaning, with graduated weaning. Herds over ten cows must wean at least two calves together and calves cannot be sold until two weeks after weaning.
6. Animal Events Applicants must be reported as per the Animal Events system through ICBF.
7. Training: paperwork, practical demonstrations, aspects of animal welfare, and ICBF services and breeding indexes.

The farm has adopted all of the seven requirements of the scheme and in some areas exceeds the requirements. For instance for the dis-budding of calves, an anaesthetic is used at all times and not just after the obligatory two weeks of age. The farm is also a member of the Rural Environmental Protection Scheme (REPS), aiming to use agricultural land which is compatible with the protection and improvement of the environment, biodiversity, the landscape and its features. The scheme also aims to reduce the impact of climate change and protect natural resources, water quality, the soil and genetic diversity. REPS also promotes environmentally-favourable farming systems along with the conservation of high-nature-value farmed environments which are under threat. As an example, Ray has planted one hectare of ‘Linnet’ (Land Invested in Nature, Natural Eco-Tillage) in 4 metre
wide strips, with oats and kale. Once planted, the area is left in a completely natural state with no application of chemicals or fertilisers and no harvesting carried out. So as to provide a shelter to birds.

In addition, the farm uses a wide range of best practices such as reed bed water treatment, rubber floor coverings, straw bedding and fertiliser application based on soil testing. "Ray has a fairly typical family-run farming business. What makes
Ray different is his foresight and confidence in the future of the industry. A large amount of investment has been undertaken to upgrade animal housing and the handling facilities on the farm and this in turn will improve animal welfare and performance, resulting in an increase in profits. Ray has the also looked at all areas of the business and is trying to reduce inputs while still maintaining/improving current production levels. Along with this, the farm is working in a more sustainable manner which will ensure the farm’s future success into the next generation." says Karl Williams, Flagship Farms Programme Manager.