Fermanagh Grassland Club members, Philip Clarke and his son, David, from near Augher, have been named runners-up in this year’s British Grassland Society’s Grassland Farmer of the Year competition.

The dairy farmers were in the final alongside Dylan and Wyn Jones, from Anglesey, who won the competition, and Peter Done, from Cheshire.

Father and son Philip and David Clarke farm 46 hectares at Augher, where they manage a herd of 80 spring calving cows, predominantly Irish and NZ Friesian crossed with Jersey.

The average yield is 5,747 litres/cow with 4,193 litres (73 per cent) from forage. The fat and protein content of the milk are 4.70 per cent and 3.60 per cent respectively.

The cows are turned out during the day in early February and are out full time in early-mid March.

A paddock grazing system is used with grass measured every five to seven days.

Cows are housed by mid-late September. They are fed silage using an easy feed system, with flat rate concentrates in the parlour.

The utilisation of forage and the financial figures impressed Hugh McClymont, and he also commented on how the Clarkes have achieved a good work-life balance.

The awards were made at the awards dinner in The Park Hotel, Peebles.