James Barry – Lixnaw, Listowel, Co. Kerry 
James owns an autumn / spring calving Holstein Friesian dairy herd averaging 9,000 Litres with 680Kg Milk Solids. Along with the dairy herd he and his brother operate an extensive tillage and beef enterprise amounting to nearly 1,000 acres. The 260 cow dairy herd works off a grazing block of just 50 Ha with a stock rate of 5.2 (LU/Ha).
Growing Maize since 1996, James aims to feed 5-10Kg in the summer months and 15Kg of the Maize in the winter months. His diet plan also consists of Crimped Grain, Soya Bean & Palm Kernel.
Convenience and reliability are two major factors James highlighted as reasons for choosing to grow maize over the alternative wheat or barley. Due to the farms fragmented nature and the ability of maize ground to utilise slurry far away land parcels become more productive.
John and Shay Galvin – Croom, Co. Limerick
John and Shay manage a beef / tillage farm along with other family member in county Limerick. The beef enterprise consists of 300 acres predominately Friesian cross cattle, while the tillage enterprise of approximately 500 acres includes a wide range of crops. John and Shay’s family have been growing maize for over 20 years for finishing cattle. In recent years the maize crop has played an essential role in crop rotation, the three crop rule and as a cash crop.
Cattle are fed approximately 9 Kg of maize per day in the winter finishing diet along with crimped grain, barley and distiller’s grain. Along with a reduced consternates bill, less or no acidosis and little digest upset John and Shay find including maize in the diet is a must.
The Galvin brother explained maize is a high quality home grown consistent yielding crop with excellent benefits, however stress that hybrid selection and soil fertility are key to success. Shay says he has found a notable yield increase in his winter wheat crops following maize due to its deep routing nature.