Donal Patton

I am a dairy research technologist employed by Teagasc and based in Ballyhaise agricultural college. I studied animal and crop production in UCD and graduated with a degree in 2004.

I have been working in Ballyhaise since 2008 as part of the dairy research and extension programme that was set up in 2005. The main purpose of this project is to develop sustainable grass based systems of milk production which are suitable for farms in the northern regions and also on farms with more difficult soils. In addition to looking at issues such as supplementation feeding strategy, overall farm stocking rate, farm fragmentation, cow type and calving profile for the region the project fulfils an important demonstration role where local farmers can see an efficient grass based system in operation within their own environment. We host up to 40 discussion groups per year from all over the country as well as running open days and smaller targeted events.