Farmers Weekly Awards 2024: Farm Manager of the Year

Breiffni Daly, of Sansaw Dairies in Shropshire is Farmers Weekly Farm Manager of the Year 2024.

Budget, budget, budget is the key, he says , as manager of a 1,500-head herd and a team of 14 full-time employees. 

It’s clear he follows his mantra, demonstrating a clear command of the figures as well as an ability to adapt and a determination to get the best from both the people he leads and the cows.

Brief exchanges with staff on the judging visit showed a cohesive team whose members take their roles seriously and enjoy being part of the large, grass-based dairy operation which has had its ups and downs, but is now profitable.

See also: Farmers Weekly Awards 2024: Farm Manager of the year finalists

The full-time team is joined by a further nine staff during calving, when up to 60 calves a day are born in a 10-week period starting in February.

Breiffni originally joined the business as a herdsman in 2012, the same year as a new greenfield site dairy complex was built.

He left in 2016 but was persuaded to return to Sansaw as manager in 2020.

Since then, he has refined many systems to make things run more smoothly, introducing standard operating procedures and adapting the original setup in practical ways to improve efficiency.

Challenges and objectives

Charged with increasing cow numbers from 1,200 to 1,500 head, improving technical performance and bringing the dairy back into profit, he has achieved all of these and continues to refine the approach.

The team had a history of relatively high turnover before Breiffni took the manager role.

The requirement for a big team called for a review of recruitment and staff appraisals, alongside skilling up the dairy team to get the best from a grass-based approach.

Lameness and contagious mastitis have been addressed, as have improving genetics for milk production from pasture and better use of slurry. Environmental schemes are being assessed.

A key element in Breiffni’s changes has been the introduction of a two week rota, visible to all on a large whiteboard in the parlour.

This gives clarity to roles and makes efficient use of the team, with full-time staff working a 55-hour week – 11 days on, three days off.

Structure and responsibility

He has also implemented a clear structure, delegating responsibility for some areas by appointing a herd manager, grassland manager, youngstock and beef managers.

Breiffni values the farm’s membership of three discussion/benchmarking groups, each with a different focus, and with some of the divisional managers attending these.

The mix of New Zealand Friesian, Irish Friesian and Jersey produces a rolling annual yield of 4,800 litres, with a plan to push this up to 5,200 litres over the next three to five years.

“Our business here at Sansaw likes change very much so, and we adapt and embrace whatever comes our way,” he says.

Looking ahead

Changes could see the calving period extended to reduce the impact of seasonality payments. Alternatively an autumn calving element could be introduced.  

Cow numbers are likely to remain at current levels but with lower fertiliser use, more clover and herbal leys to boost sustainability and help meet environmental requirements.

The stocking rate will drop as more land gradually comes back in hand.