Lorcan McDonnell is milking just over 240 cows through a robotic set-up cows in Co. Meath alongside his parents, Laurence and Anne-Marie.

Like all dairy farms, it has being a difficult year for the McDonnells, between skyrocketing costs, poor milk prices, and feeling the full effects of the two-month-long drought.

However, the McDonnells have a trick up their sleeve helping them to secure financial stability in difficult years like this.

Lorcan breeds his replacement dairy heifers from his top 70-80 cows, meaning up to 150 beef straws are used on the rest of the herd.

But as we all know, it can be a tricky decision to choose which beef breeds to go for in any given year, whether it is the reliable Angus, continentals, or something completely different.

Lorcan does a bit of each, but has most recently went with the latter after speaking to Michael Quinn of Progressive Genetics ahead of last autumn's breeding season.

Lorcan recalls Quinn suggesting using Wagyu straws, saying: "He gave me this list as long as my arm of good attributes.

Lorcan decided to bite the bullet and go in with 25 Wagyu straws last autumn, 17 of which kept, and he has not looked back since.

He used another 30-40 straws for the spring calving herd this year, with conception rates looking very strong after scanning.

Lorcan has found the breed very easy on his cows at calving, which keeps both man and beast healthier and happier.

To make matters sweeter, Lorcan got speaking to Cathal Doyle from Warrendale Wagyu, and got involved with the joint programme between Warrendale and Kepak.

Wagyu scheme

Speaking to Agriland, Doyle outlined the joint programme with Kepak, which is offering a fixed price for Wagyu-sired calves and a €1.50/kg breed bonus when these reach maturity as beef cattle.

Dairy farmers receive a guaranteed priced for each Wagyu-sired calf they have, removing the volatility of calf prices in the mart and the headaches that can arise when haggling.

Dairy farmers who are also rearing finishing stock have the option to keep the Wagyu calves on their own farm, and avail of the €1.50/kg breed bonus themselves when the cattle are sent to Kepak.

For farms that do not rear cattle, Doyle will call out to the farm directly and collect the calves once they are 21 days-of-age, organising a beef farmer who will rear them.

Lorcan said "He is straight out the door, here when you need him, picks them up with the trailer and away with them.

This system removes the stress and time consumed by rounding calves up yourself and dropping them to a sale.

The programme offers both the dairy farmer and beef farmer an "element of security" through the guaranteed prices, a massive benefit in such a volatile market.

Lorcan said: "The big thing for us and the reason we're transitioning to the breeding system we have is to secure the price of calves.

Lorcan noted how the Wagyu programme's fixed pricing system offers a platform to "build a future on".