Pat Weeks

Pat Weeks joined the Council of the Irish Grassland Association in 2010. Pat is married to Olive and they have five children. They live in Kilfinane, Co Limerick. Despite Pat having qualified and worked in engineering, Pat and Olive decided to concentrate on full time farming in 2007. A thorough evaluation of their circumstances by this able duo led to an expansion of the farm which is still very much in progress.  Today the Weeks family milk 145 mainly jersey cross cows on the 50 ha milking platform. All replacement stock are reared on outside blocks from where silage is also harvested. Firmly focused on the right cow and the right grass the intention is to milk 180 cows stocked at 3.5 cows/ha producing 400 kg milk solids/cow. Achieving these targets will require high grass utilisation per hectare, achieved through measurement and targeted annual reseeding. The Weeks Family hosted the Irish Grassland Association Dairy Summer Tour in 2010. Pat served on the Council of the Irish Grassland Association for 3 years.