Expansion Review 2007-2012

1. Expansion Review 2007-2012 O’ Donnell Dairy Farm Cow and Heifer Numbers Money spent 2009-2012 € • Lessons Learned – Expansion • Young stock numbers increase • Need facilities for young stock • Reseeding priority • Need good plenty of roadways • Plan your expenditure • Focus on bulk purchase • Reaching targets a challenge with more stock Farm Expenditure 2009-2012 Cash left to Pay: Labour,loans,tax,pension,&capital • Key Facts • 800feet above sea level • Milking 81 cows 2012 • 54ha total area • 36.6ha milking area • 8 unit milking parlour • Heifer contract reared • Machinery work contracted

2. Current Farm Updates Soil Fertility Milk production & Fertility Update 2012 Management • Cows out day&night from calving • 3kg meal fed/day avg. (Feb-Aug) • Fed 110 round bales except Jun • Housed 20 days & 9 nights • 27 days of on /off grazing • Fertiliser was kept up to date • Heifers bred indoors 2 wks in May • Cut silage 12th June • Bought 200 round bales in June Rainfall Today’s Farm Update Grass Grown 2011 and 2012

3. ExistingYard &Proposed • Key Facts • 800feet above sea level • 53.77ha total area • 36.57ha milking area • 8 unit milking parlour • Heifer contract reared • Machinery work contracted

4. Drainage problems Impermeable soils • Mole drain or gravel mole drain: • Aim to fracture and crack the soil • Dependent on: • Soil type • Implement used • Weather conditions • In tandem with collector drains Groundwater Drainage System • Conventional or deep pipe drains: • If a soil layer will transmit water • If excess water can percolate to watertable. • Drain spacing dependent on hydraulic properties of drainage layer. • Test pits (at least 2.5m deep) • Soil texture & structure • Water movement (transmit or retain) • Rooting depth, cracking • Depth/Thickness of various layers