Productivity, Sustainability and Resilience on Display at Fitzgerald Family Farm

 

The Fitzgerald family farm in Portlaw, Co. Waterford, provided the perfect setting for Tirlán’s latest Summer Farm Walk, showcasing how high-performance dairy farms can continue to improve productivity while embracing environmental sustainability.

 

Fresh from being recognised as Tirlán’s Overall Milk Suppliers of the Year, Shane and Kate Fitzgerald welcomed farmers from across the region to demonstrate the management practices that have made their business one of Ireland’s leading dairy enterprises. A key takeaway from Shane and Kate Fitzgerald was that profitability and sustainability are not competing objectives—they can, and should, work hand in hand.

Performance Built on Strong Fundamentals

Throughout the evening, visitors were given an insight into the key performance indicators that underpin the Fitzgeralds’ success. The 200-cow spring-calving Holstein Friesian herd consistently delivers exceptional performance, producing 533kg of milk solids per cow last year while feeding 1.4 tonnes of concentrate per cow. The herd also boasts an impressive Economic Breeding Index (EBI) of €173, reflecting years of focused breeding decisions that have improved fertility, milk solids production and overall efficiency.

Alongside these production figures, the farm has achieved an overall nitrogen surplus of 155kg N/ha, demonstrating that excellent environmental performance aids high-output milk production. Speaking at the event, Tirlán ASSAP Manager, Michael Hassett highlighted that these figures are not achieved through one area of focus but through consistent attention to detail across grassland management, breeding, nutrient management, animal health and financial decision-making.

Managing Through Challenging Conditions

Like many dairy farmers across the country at the moment, the Fitzgerald family are dealing with significant grass shortages. Kate Fitzgerald explained that while the herd is currently producing approximately 20L/cow/day, management decisions have had to change quickly in response to weather conditions. Meal feeding has increased from 2kg to 6kg per cow, alongside 6kg of silage and 6kg of grazed grass, to maintain cow performance, and to lengthen the grazing rotation, to allow grass to recover. Rather than reacting too late, the Fitzgeralds have taken a proactive approach to protect both animal performance and grassland recovery.

The approach mirrors the advice being provided by Tirlán’s Milk Solids team, who are encouraging farmers to act early rather than waiting for grass supplies to become critically low. With more than 40% of the season’s milk solids still to be produced, maintaining dry matter intake is essential to protecting milk yield, constituents and cow performance. Farmers are advised to supplement diets promptly, monitor milk solids closely and use good-quality silage where buffer feeding is required. Water availability should also remain a priority during periods of prolonged dry weather, as reduced feed intake and dehydration can quickly impact milk production. 

Farming for Nature Without Compromising Performance

Perhaps the strongest message from the evening came from Shane’s reflections on how his farming philosophy has evolved since returning home to farm full-time after working in New Zealand in 2016. Along with running a productive & profitable enterprise the Fitzgeralds balance this with creating space for Biodiversity by leaving field margins, establishing new hedgerows, avoiding unnecessary spraying beneath fences and only trimming hedges when required. Importantly, these actions have not reduced farm output but have in fact co-existed very well. Their participation in biodiversity initiatives demonstrates how a series of small changes, implemented consistently over time, can improve habitats, and protect water quality while still maintaining a highly productive system.

Preparing for the 6th Nitrates Action Programme

The farm walk also provided suppliers with an important opportunity to hear about the implementation of Ireland’s 6th Nitrates Action Programme, which will guide nutrient management and water quality measures through to 2028. Michael Hassett outlined the practical changes farmers will continue to work through over the coming years, with particular emphasis on improving nutrient use efficiency, protecting water quality, and strengthening the long-term sustainability of Irish dairy farming. Your Farm Sustainability Development Advisor can assist you in assessing your slurry storage and calculate what additional storage may be required to be compliant before October 1^st, 2028. Get in contact today to ensure a plan is in place.

Introducing FarmElevate

One of the highlights of the evening was the introduction of FarmElevate, Tirlán’s new knowledge transfer programme delivered in partnership with Teagasc. FarmElevate has been developed to help Tirlán farm families improve profitability, productivity and environmental sustainability through practical, farmer-led learning. The programme is built around a network of Lighthouse Farms, where proven technologies and best management practices can be demonstrated under commercial farming conditions before being adopted more widely across the Tirlán supplier base.

FarmElevate will also support participating suppliers through technical advice on nutrient management, grassland performance, breeding, nutritional advice, labour management, climate action and overall farm business development.

Join Us at the first FarmElevate Event on Thursday, 6 August, onPatrick Fortune’s farm, Adamstown, Co. Wexford. Y21 R263

First Published: 4 August 2026