What makes Glen South Farm different is the foresight and confidence for the farm’s future and that of the Irish beef industry.

The farm is currently home to a herd of 340 top quality heifers with a plan to increase to 1000 at full capacity.

Taking an innovative step into the future, in January 2014 a Lely Vector automatic feeding system was installed at Glen South Farm - the first of its kind for beef cattle in Europe, in conjunction with a state of the art handling system.

Efficient beef production largely depends on feeding the herd consistently, timely and sufficiently. The assistance of the Vector delivers on all of the above.

The consistent availability of fresh feed at the fence increases feed intake, growth rate and ensures a dependable quality and live weight gain.

The stress-free cattle receive fresh food as required from a carefully planned diet structure tailored to the individual group of animals.

Managing the herd has also become more relaxed for the farm team as the feeding takes care of itself.

Summer pastures provide valuable, high-quality forage in the warmer months of the year. Soil testing is conducted on the grassland improving fertilizer use and efficiency

If you wish, you can see more of the Glen South Farm in action in the video to the right featured on RTE news.

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History

Glen South’s legacy stretches back to the early 1900’s where the O’Connell/McSweeney family has farmed the rolling landscape of Banteer, County Cork for three generations.

Throughout the long history of Glen South, the family have worked long and hard, gathering a wealth of farming knowledge. Traditional practices have played an important role in maintaining sustainable production system long before the days of modern farm machinery.

Jeremiah and Margaret, assisted by Ned steadfastly upheld the farms traditions over the years until 2012 when Margaret passed the baton to her daughter , Teresa and husband Frank Murphy. Illness unfortunately forced Jeremiah to switch from dairy farming to suckler farming in 1985. When one door closes another one opens and this led to recognition for Jerry and Margaret for excellence in their suckler herd . As a regional award winner, Jerry was presented with a Certificate by Minister for Agriculture, Michael O' Kennedy in 1987.

Now, with the assistance of technology, the farm continues its prosperous journey, maintaining due care for the land and animals while ensuring on target profit delivery and future success for the next generation.

Significant investment has been undertaken to upgrade the animal housing and the handling facilities on the farm and in effectively improving animal wellbeing and performance.

Frank has reviewed all areas of the business, evaluating input while maintaining and improving current production levels.

Automatic Feeding System Installed on North Cork Farm

Elizabeth Ahern, Boehringer Ingelheim’s Cattle Specialist based in the Republic of Ireland, had the pleasure of attending an open day on a progressive beef farm in North Cork, Ireland, where the innovative Lely robotic feeding system has been installed. Glen South legacy stretches back to the early 1900’s where the McSweeney family has farmed the rolling landscape of Banteer, County Cork for three generations.

Frank Murphy and his wife Teresa McSweeney took over management of the Farm in 2012. What makes Glen South Farm different is the foresight and confidence for the farm’s future and the Irish beef industry. Significant investment was undertaken to upgrade the animal housing and handling facilities on the farm which in turn served to improve animal wellbeing and performance.

The newly constructed five star farm buildings have capacity for up to 1000 head of cattle. Frank holds a combination suckler herd sourced from local farms and established farmers; including Hereford stock from well know breeder, Dáithí Carroll and Aberdeen Angus from the Gigginstown Herd. In an innovative move, the Lely Vector automatic feeding system was installed at Glen South Farm in January 2014. This was the first of its kind for beef cattle in Europe. With the assistance of the robotic feed system, the animals enjoy “a la carte” access to a carefully balanced diet. The objective is to shorten the food chain from “farm to fork” offering a consistent supply of prime quality beef.

Glen South’s current customer market includes many quality restaurants via local butcher suppliers. The stress-free cattle receive fresh food as required in accordance with a carefully planned diet, tailored to individual groups within the herd.

Consistent availability of fresh fodder at the fence encourages feed intake, growth rate and ensures high quality and better live weight gain. Frank believes that efficient beef production largely depends on feeding the herd in a consistent, timely and sufficient manner and the Lely Vector is a beneficial assistant with these principles. Managing the herd has become more relaxed for the farm team as feeding takes care of itself. Summer pastures provide valuable, high-quality forage in the warmer months. Clover is cultivated to provide a natural source of nitrogen and grassland soil testing is regularly conducted, improving fertilizer use and efficiency.

Maize and Beet crops are locally grown to provide winter feeding for the herd and foraging zones to the wild bird populations. Frank has reviewed all sectors of the business; evaluating input while maintaining and improving current production levels. The farm, which also accommodates a state of the art handling system, is now working in an efficient sustainable manner, ensuring profit delivery and future success for the next generation.