Are there more large farms in NI

I always watch rare bread its a fantastic program and it just struck me that there seems to be larger more commercially run farms in NI than in the republic?

I know I am getting this from a TV program and it could just be the impression the program gives.

ganmo

2011 avg herd 75 in NI
2012 ... 60 in ROI


So you'd be right but I'd guess that we're catching up quickly

AntrimGlens

ganmo wrote: »

2011 avg herd 75 in NI
2012 ... 60 in ROI


So you'd be right but I'd guess that we're catching up quickly

Ganmo, I assume you're giving dairy figures. Average suckler herd is still only 18 cows up here, but yes there are some big farms although big is not always equal to best. Plenty of p/t and small family farms about too so wouldn't say there's more big farms here than in the south per se.

MF290

AntrimGlens wrote: »

Ganmo, I assume you're giving dairy figures. Average suckler herd is still only 18 cows up here, but yes there are some big farms although big is not always equal to best. Plenty of p/t and small family farms about too so wouldn't say there's more big farms here than in the south per se.

Average suckler herd is 14.5 cows in ROI, seems that the average farm is 40 ha in NI and 30 ha ROI

ganmo

Yup pretty sure they're dairy figures
From an afbi article from 2011 http://www.afbini.gov.uk/search.lsim?sr=50&qt=herd&sb=1&cs=iso-8859-1&ha=afbi-cms&hs=0&mt=1&nh=10&sc=

And https://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/analysing-herd-sizes/

Insp. Harry Callahan

There was a lot of expansion in dairy farms in NI in the last 5-7 years, think quota was easy got, big numbers and intensive high input/ high output systems, getting it tight now in the last yr due to the very low milk price there

frazzledhome

Insp. Harry Callahan wrote: »

There was a lot of expansion in dairy farms in NI in the last 5-7 years, think quota was easy got, big numbers and intensive high input/ high output systems, getting it tight now in the last yr due to the very low milk price there

Some here are promoting this intensive system as the way forward!!!!

Insp. Harry Callahan

Aye natural instinct is to grow bigger and expand, not always the smartest way to go though.i thought the organic section on ear to the ground the other week was interesting, made you think

whelan2

Insp. Harry Callahan wrote: »

There was a lot of expansion in dairy farms in NI in the last 5-7 years, think quota was easy got, big numbers and intensive high input/ high output systems, getting it tight now in the last yr due to the very low milk price there

My uncle lives near Newry, was talking to him the other day. He said alot of lads in alot of trouble money wise. The majority are housed all year around. Rare enough to see cows out at all. The costs must be crazy. He is only a small scale farmer and likes to see cows in the fields:)

mahoney_j

frazzledhome wrote: »

Some here are promoting this intensive system as the way forward!!!!

We are but only if there efficient and the core of the diet is grazed grass

MickeyShtyles

Thomas Steele above in NI has fairly hefty numbers. That's dairy though.