Grasscheck Farmers

Grasscheck

GrassCheck Beef and Sheep Farmers

Alan Topley

Alan Topley farms in Tandragee, Co.Armagh.

Alastair McNeilly

Alastair McNeilly has a suckler to beef farm in Antrim, with a herd of 90 cows. Heifers calve at 24 months and male calves are finished as steers at 18-20 months. His herd is predominantly Limousin and Angus breeds.

Andrew Gardiner

Andrew Gardiner from Kilrea previously ran a suckler to beef system but is currently in the process of converting to a dairy system, with plans to milk 85 crossbred cows on an extensive grazing system, starting in 2021.

Brian Radcliff

Brian Radcliff is a beef finisher from Banbridge. He is finishing around 160 cattle at any time, he also finishes lambs.

Clement Lynch

Clement Lynch farms in Claudy, Co. Derry / Londonderry

Crosby Cleland

Crosby Cleland from Ballynahinch has a lowland flock of 2000 sheep on a rotational grazing platform, supplying fat lambs to his local meat plant each year.

David McKinstry

David McKinstry farms in partnership with his father and brother near Magherafelt. They have 65 suckler cows with all progeny are either taken through to beef or reared as replacement heifers.

Declan Rafferty

Declan Rafferty from Pomeroy has a beef finishing and suckler to beef system on an extensive and rotational grazing system. He also rears dairy origin calves on a contract basis.

Eamonn Matthews

Eamonn Matthews farms in Glenarm, Co. Antrim.

Eoin McCollum

Eoin McCollum farms alongside his brother in Ballymena, Co. Antrim.

Frank and Paul Turley

Frank and Paul Turley farm close to Downpatrick. They have 170 spring calving Aberdeen Angus cross cows calving in 9 weeks with all progeny finished through to beef on an all grass based system. They also rear autumn dairy-origin calves through to beef.

Greg O'Boyle

Greg O'Boyle farms in Randalstown, Co. Antrim.

James Henderson

James Henderson farms in Kilkeel, rearing 180 dairy origin cattle to beef on a rotational grazing system. He has a flock of 800 sheep and also grows combinable crops.

Jason McMinn

Jason McMinn farms in Loughgall, Co. Aramgh.

Jayme and Ciaran Carvill

Jayme and Ciaran Carvill farm in partnership in Hilltown, finishing lowland sheep in a rotational grazing system. They also rear store cattle to beef.

John Egerton

John Egerton is a suckler farmers from Rosslea. He has 80 Simmental and Limousin cows with all progeny either finished through to beef or reared as replacement heifers. He also has a 170 ewe sheep enterprise. John occasionally writes for the Irish Farmers Journal.

John Martin

John Martin farms in Greyabbey, finishing lowland sheep on a rotational grazing system. He also contract-rears dairy heifers.

John McHenry

John McHenry is a full time farmer from Mosside, North Antrim. He farms 70 sucklers to beef in a closed herd, alongside 220 ewes with all lambs finished. John also has 20 acres of barley which is grown for home use. He has been a GrassCheck farmer since 2023.

Jonathan Blair

Jonathan Blair has 320 beef cattle on his Ballykelly, rearing suckler cattle to beef on a rotational grazing system. He also grows combinable crops.

Martin Conlon

Martin Conlon farms in Ballinagallia, Co. Armagh.

Martin, Richard and Lianne Craig

Martin, Richard and Lianne Craig are beef finishers from Crumlin. They are finishing around 180 cattle at any one time. They also have a 250 ewe sheep enterprise.

Oliver McKenna

Oliver McKenna is a suckler farmers from Omagh. He has 60 suckler cows with all progeny are either taken through to beef or reared as replacement heifers.

Paraic McNeill

Paraic McNeill farms in Annaclone, Co. Down.

Roger and Hilary Bell

Roger and Hilary Bell from Kells have a combination of 1500 lowland and upland sheep on a rotational grazing system. They also have a herd of 70 beef cattle

Roy and Marilyn Mayers

Roy and Marilyn Mayers farm in Tempo, Co. Fermanagh.

Ryan Young

Ryan Young farms in Derry / Londonderry.

Sam Chesney

Sam Chesney is a suckler farmers from Kircubbin. He has 145 Limousin suckler cows, progeny kept through to beef. Sam is a former Farmers Weekly Beef Farmers of the Year and is currently Vice-Chair of the Ulster Farmers’ Union Beef and Lamb Committee.

Stephen Maguire

Stephen Maguire is a suckler farmer from Maguresbridge. He has 60 Simmental suckler cows, most progeny are sold as stores with a small number sold as weanlings.

Trevor Nixon

Trevor Nixon farms in Bellanaleck, Co. Fermanagh

Trevor Somerville

Trevor Somerville farms in partnership with his father near Donaghmore. They have 20 suckler cows with all progeny finished through to beef. They also rear dairy-origin beef calves through to beef (including a veal enterprise) and finish suckler and dairy origin stores through to beef.

Wayne Acheson

Wayne Acheson is a beef farmer from Cookstown. He has a herd of suckler cattle and a beef finishing system. 400 store cattle are purchased each spring and graze during the before finishing for 90 days after housing.

William Egerton

William Egerton farms in Rosslea, Co. Fermanagh.

GrassCheck Dairy Farmers

Alan Hamilton

Alan Hamilton farms in Broughshane, Ballymena.

Albert O'Neill

Albert O'Neill farms near Strabane, where he has a 190 dairy herd who graze in an extended period during the grazing season.

Brian McCracken

Brian McCracken farms in partnership with his wife (Lynne) and his father (Jack). The farm is situated on the Holywood Hills. They have 250 cows (New Zealand Friesian and Jersey Cross) and operate a spring calving dairy system.

Caryn Webster

Caryn Webster farms in Islandmagee, Larne.

Chris Hamilton

Chris Hamilton farms in Newtownards where he milks 115 New Zealand/Kiwi cross cows. He calves his herd in a block spring calving, and grazes day and night where the weather allows.

David Hunter

David Hunter farms in partnership with his father near Newtownstewart. They have 80 cows (Holstein Friesian and Jersey Cross) and operate a spring block calving grass based system.

Gareth Short

Gareth Short manages a farm just outside of Tyrone where he is milking a herd of 345 spring calving Holstein-Friesian/Jersey herd. The cattle graze extensively on rented ground during the grazing season.

Geoffrey Malcolmson

Geoffrey Malcolmson farms in Newry, where he is currently milking a herd of 130 Holstein cows on a twice a day system. His cattle graze full time during the grazing season and calve in the autumn.

Gordon Elliott

Gordon Elliott is a full time dairy farmer from Derrygonnelly, Co. Fermanagh. He gets help on the farm in the evenings and weekends from his wife and family. Gordon runs 80 dairy cows plus followers, rear dropped calves to beef and has small Pedigree Angus and Charolais herds. He has been a GrassCheck farmer since 2023.

Jack & Mark Johnston

Jack & Mark Johnston farm in Ahoghill. They have a dairy herd of 300 cattle in a spring calving system.

Henry Stewart

Henry Stewart farms in partnership with his father (Ramsey) in Stewartstown. They have 200 Holstein Friesian cows operated on a split calving system with each calving block grazed separately.

Hugh Harbison

Hugh Harbison farms in partnership with his wife and father near Aghadowey. They have 150 cows (New Zealand and British Friesian) and operate a compact autumn calving system.

Ian McClelland

Ian McClelland farms near Banbridge. He has 70 Holstein cows on a grass based high yielding system.

James Taylor

James Taylor farms in Portrush, Co. Derry / Londonderry

Joe Cush

Joe Cush farms near Pomeroy. He has 70 Holstein Friesian cows. He also finishes Aberdeen Angus cattle.

John and Andrew Dale

John and Andrew Dale farm near Limavady. They have 110 Fleckvieh cross cows. They started zero grazing in 2016 due to the limited grazing platform.

Jonny Hutchinson

Jonny Hutchinson farms in Tobermore, Magherafelt.

Josh Morton

Josh Morton farms in Lisnadill, Co. Armagh.

Kevin McGrade

Kevin McGrade farms in partnership with his brother Mark in Dromore (Tyrone). They have a herd of 240 dairy cows who calve in a block period during the autumn.

Ryan Carr

Ryan Carr farms with his wife Audrey near Downpatrick. They have 200 cows (New Zealand Friesian and Jersey Cross) and operate a spring calving dairy system. With all cows calved down in 11 weeks with as little meal fed as possible.

Thomas, Jayne and Heather Martin

Thomas, Jayne and Heather Martin run a primarily dairy farm in Portaferry. They have a dairy herd of 145 cows on an extended grazing system. They also have a beef enterprise.