2025 Autumn Dairy Visit

The Ulster Grassland Society’s Autumn meeting is a visit to David Hunter’s dairy farm, 31 Droit Road, Newtownstewart, BT78 4DS, on Tuesday 28th October at 11:00am. 

A cup of tea/coffee will be available on arrival with the farm walk commencing at 11:30pm.  A BBQ meal will be available around 1:30pm on the farm.  (The cost is £5 for members and £10 for non-members.)

After completing his course at Greenmount Campus and coming home to farm, David made the decision to change the family farm business from beef and sheep to dairying. This involved having to covert the beef buildings as well as additional buildings for his dairy herd. He also had to setup paddocks and lanes to make grazing as hassle free as possible.  The farm is 180 acres with 112 spring calving cross bred cows (Holstein x Jersey x Viking Red), producing high quality milk. He also has 25 in-calf heifers,  30 calves and 50 beef cattle.
His objective is to maximise use of grass with a breed of cow that suits the system.  David uses a the latest  technologies in an effort to have a  profitable system.  His grassland management is excellent, achieving 13 tonnes DM/ha.

He usually can turn the cows out in mid-February and not house again until the end of October or early November.  He extends his grazing season by building up grass covers from August.

Animal Health and Biosecurity
To prevent the spread of disease between farms it is essential that you have clean wellington boots and change of clothes from those, which you use on your farm.

Directions:  From the A5 road at Newtownstewart take the (B46)  Plumbridge/Gortin Road. Continue to follow directions for Gortin (Kilmore Road) (Approx. 4.3 Miles).  Turn left onto Droit Road (UGS Sign). The farm is a  short distance on left.
From Gortin, follow the signs for Newtownstewart for about 6 miles.  Droit road is on right (look out for Ulster Grassland Society signs. (Alternatively if using What Three Words App use Walkway.Phesants.Chief to obtain directions.)

Booking

Please let me know if you are going on the visit, for catering purposes.
To book, click on the  Booking Form on the right of this page or contact the Honorary Secretary by text or phone on 07920037910 or by email to:  secretary@ulstergrassland.co.uk