Emma McCormack, a former That’s Farming contributor, manages a 400-cow dairy unit in Westmeath.
Grasstec recently visited Stokestown Dairies, a grass-based system in Streamstown, where the farm manager provided an insight into the thriving operation.
Emma initially hails from a beef and sheep farm and studied agricultural science at Waterford Institute of Technology and Kildalton Agricultural College.
She studied horticulture for one year, having worked for a local landscaper from her mid-teens, but then returned to the IT to study agriculture.
She gained dairying experienced as a relief milker locally and completed a placement in Scotland in spring 2018. That summer, she secured an office-based position with a construction company in New York before returning to her home soil to work on a pig farm.
She completed her degree in 2019 and worked for a local farmer before joining Stokestown Dairies in January 2020. She has been since promoted to the position of farm manager of the large-scale enterprise.
400-cow unit
The farm she works on comprises cross-bred cows – the majority of which are in their second lactation – which are milked through a 5-bail Waikato rotary parlour. They are farmed as part of a spring-calving grass-based system. In recent weeks, the herd peaked at 26.5-litres/cow at 2.09kg/MS/per cow at 4.25% fat and 3.7% protein.
In addition, she has recently leased a farm nearby, where she is rearing surplus dairy heifers, beef heifers and teaser bulls for heat detection.
About Grasstec:
Grasstec provides livestock services, including sourcing, importing, and exporting dairy livestock for farmers in Ireland, UK, and Europe. Farm-to-farm livestock agents link sellers directly with buyers on a no sale, no fee basis.
Besides, Grasstec also offers farm mapping, farmyard design and sells a range of products. The company aims to “assist the progressive farmer to achieve greater productivity in their farm business”.
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