CAFRE students visit Better Farm Beef Challenge

March 5, 2019

Visit by BSc2 Agricultural Technology students to the Better Farm Beef Challenge NI farm of Fionbharr Hamill, Downpatrick.

Darryl Boyd, CAFRE Beef Advisor, described the use of kale for outwintering of suckler cows to second year students on the BSc Hons in Agricultural Technology course delivered jointly by Queens and CAFRE, on their visit to the Better Farm Beef Challenge NI farm of Fionbharr Hamill, Downpatrick.

Second year CAFRE BSc2 Honours Degree in Agricultural Technology students benefitted from a discussion with ABP Procurement Graduate Stuart Cromie during their recent visit to the Better Farm Beef Challenge NI farm of Fionbharr Hamill, Downpatrick. (left to right) Matthew Compston, Armagh; James Scroggie, Armagh; Stuart Cromie, ABP; and Lucy Marshall, Aughnacloy.

 Arthur Callaghan, ABP NI (left) and Darryl Boyd, CAFRE Beef Advisor (right), outlined the operation of the Better Farm Beef Challenge NI on the farm of Fionbharr Hamill (center) near Downpatrick. The programme’s target is to produce the highest gross margin per hectare possible on participating farms over three years. Current and previous performance figures for the herd were discussed with the students as well as the the key areas being focused on in the Challenge.

Second year BSc Honours Degree in Agricultural Technology students listened as CAFRE’s Darryl Boyd took them through the key performance figures explored via the Better Farm Beef Challenge.  The group look forward to keeping up with Fionbharr’s progress though updates in the Irish Farmers Journal.