Скачать или смотреть Teagasc FBD Environmental Sustainability Awards 2025 - John O'Connell

John O’Connell is a sheep farmer from Leitrim. John was shortlisted as a finalist in this years awards.

The farm consists of 34 ha grassland and 2.4 ha forestry, with a stocking rate of 2.0 LU/ha. We apply 85 kg/ha of chemical nitrogen, representing a 20% reduction over the past three years, fully as protected urea. Soil fertility is maintained at 100% of farm optimum for P and K and 75% for pH. Slurry is 100% applied using LESS technology, with 5–10 m buffer zones depending on the watercourse. Grass dry matter utilisation is approximately 12 t/ha.

All rams are performance recorded, and ewes lamb at 12 months, rearing an average of 2 lambs per ewe per year, producing ~390 kg lamb per ha. Hedgerow management has been enhanced with 625 m of new hedging in 2024 and occasional tree planting.

Sustainability measures implemented include clover incorporation, protected urea, LESS slurry application, and solar panels on sheds. Future plans focus on continued hedgerow management, faecal sampling of lambs to reduce anthelmintic use, enhanced vaccination and hygiene to lower antibiotic use, and potential replanting of forestry following storm damage.

Diversification has improved both environmental and economic performance through solar installation and forest management, alongside continued adoption of sustainable livestock practices.

The Teagasc FBD Environmental Sustainability Awards aims to promote environmentally sustainable farming. The awards highlight the progress farmers are making to lighten the load of farming on the environment, while continuing to produce high quality, nutritious food, in a profitable manner #TeagascFBDSustainability25