Kennedy Farm — NDC & Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards

Representing Dairygold in this year’s NDC & Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards, Aidan and Derval Kennedy of Drangan House, Cahir, Co. Tipperary, operate a dairy farm on a scale that sets it apart from many others in the competition. With a herd of 374 cows milked through a state-of-the-art 50-unit rotary parlor, the Kennedys manage a 132-hectare milking platform, along with an additional 61 hectares, producing over 2 million litres of milk annually. The Kennedys have incorporated their farm into a company since 2014 with Derval and Aidan as directors.

The scale and complexity of this operation require a well-oiled team where family and staff management are as crucial as herd management. Farm manager Roger O'Donnell, who holds a dairy business degree from UCD and spent seven years working in New Zealand, plays a pivotal role in daily operations and lives with his family in a house on the farm. The team also includes long-standing employees Paul Moloney and Nerimantus Mikuckas, with 30 and 17 years of service respectively, and Vasile Barbieru, another valued team member. Their dedication is reflected in the farm’s smooth operation, where tasks are rotated. For the past seven years, apart from calving time, everyone finishes by 5pm, ensuring a balanced work-life environment. A generous work-rota and holiday structure have contributed to high staff retention, a significant achievement in an industry often facing labour challenges.

Aidan is a founding member of the Dairymis Discussion Group, established in 1979, where he continues to foster innovation and learning. The farm’s stocking rate of 2.56 LU/ha allows for 285 days at grass. The average yield per cow stands at 5,556 litres, with 496 kg of milk solids produced per cow.

Maximising grass utilisation is a priority on the farm, with PastureBase playing a crucial role. Grass is regularly assessed by cutting and measuring, using a plate meter or through field walks, with assessments carried out an impressive 54 times throughout the season.

The herd is genomically tested and Aidan believes this will enable breeding for specific traits with greater precision representing a game-changer in improving the long-term performance and resilience of his cows. Milk recording takes place four times annually with 35% of cows selected for a teat sealant-only approach at drying off, based on consistently low SCC. In 2023, just 10 cases of mastitis were treated, reflecting the farm’s rigorous attention to detail at milking and liming the cubicle sheds. For breeding, the Kennedys use LIC genetics from New Zealand, and their replacement heifers are contract reared. Male calves are sold at 60-70kg and Aengus and Hereford beef straws are used, with Hereford AI used on cows with Jersey genetics to ensure marketability.

Sustainability is at the heart of the Kennedys' operation. 63% of all fertiliser used in the past four years was protected urea. In their efforts to reduce nitrogen use, approximately 45% of the milking platform has clover included and the farm has spread 643 tonnes of lime since January 2022 to optimise soil health. The farm boasts 1.1 km of Whitethorn hedges, enhancing biodiversity and encouraging wildlife habitats.

Situated near the rivers Suir and Aherlow, the Kennedys have implemented several watercourse protection measures. They have fenced off the riverbanks with a boundary fence 3.5 metres from the bank, and buffer zones are strictly maintained—5 metres for slurry spreading (undertaken using LESS technology) and 10 metres for chemical fertilisers. Part of the farm is a floodplain, providing a winter home for Whooper swans and a year-round haven for mute swans, with numbers often exceeding 300.

The farm’s meticulous focus on sustainability is matched by an impressive carbon footprint, standing at just 0.93 kg CO2 per kg of FPCM. The farm participates in the Munster Bovine herd health program, and Aidan praises the tailored veterinary support provided by the O Connor Julien practice including vaccination strategies and mastitis treatment based on sensitivity testing.

All the Kennedy family are deeply involved in the farm’s success. Derval plays a pivotal role in its management and is referred to by Aidan as ‘the real boss’. Their children, Galina and Nickolas, contribute their expertise in meaningful ways. Galina, with a master’s in mechanical engineering and a PhD in progress at Trinity College, was key to selecting and installing the rotary parlor in 2020 and continues to lead research on energy-saving initiatives for the farm. Nickolas, who graduated in agribusiness from UCD in 2023 and now works in financial services in Dublin, keeps a close eye on the farm performance metrics, advising on profitability and capital investments. Both Galina and Nickolas are keen to stay involved and eager to play a greater role in the future.

The Kennedy family farm exemplifies the potential of large-scale, modern dairy farming in Ireland, combining cutting-edge technology, a skilled workforce, and a strong commitment to sustainability. Their operation offers a glimpse of what can be achieved through teamwork, innovation, and careful environmental stewardship along with a different management model from what is routine in Ireland.

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