Meet the Specialist Nutrition Team

At Specialist Nutrition, our team is made up of passionate experts dedicated to supporting sustainable farming and delivering top-quality nutrition solutions. With years of experience in the agriculture, food, and beverage industries, we work closely with farmers and industry partners to help them achieve their goals.

From our skilled livestock nutritionists to our logistics and support teams, each member plays a vital role in ensuring that we provide the best service and innovative solutions to our clients. We’re proud of the positive impact we make, and we’re here to help you every step of the way.

Jim grew up on a family farm in Co. Kildare and pursued his passion for agriculture at UCD, earning a B Agr. Sc (Hons) in 1985. He spent the next 13 years working as General Manager for a leading agricultural merchant.

In 1998, Jim became Managing Director of Forage Systems, driving its growth and development. The company later evolved into Specialist Nutrition, focusing on the moist and liquid feeds market. Today, Specialist Nutrition is the leading supplier of high-quality feeds and supplements for progressive dairy and beef farmers across Ireland and the UK.

Jim is an active member of the Agricultural Science Association, the Irish Farmers Association, and the Irish Holstein and Friesian Association.

Pat Coakley brings over 20 years of experience in the agricultural industry, with a strong background in dairy farming. For the past six years, he has worked with dairy and beef farmers in the Cork and Kerry regions, helping them maximise their operations. Pat’s extensive expertise allows him to provide tailored solutions that enhance farm productivity and profitability.

Nigel Condell, an experienced beef and dairy nutritionist, specialises in helping farmers optimise their herds’ performance with moist and liquid feed solutions. With a background in animal and crop production and a degree in Agricultural Science from University College Dublin, Nigel has worked across Ireland and the UK. Since joining Specialist Nutrition in 2017, he has focused on improving farm productivity through innovative feeding strategies, including TMR diets and amino acid supplementation, driving sustainable, high-performance results on farms.

Rachel McCarthy comes from a mixed dairy and beef enterprise farm in Cork. She is a graduate in Agricultural Science from UCD, where she specialised in Animal and Crop Production. She went on to complete the Dairygold Graduate Development Programme before joining Dairygold full time as an Area Sales Manager for four years. Rachel, who lives in Kanturk, joined Specialist Nutrition in April 2019 as an animal nutritionist, covering the length and breadth of the Rebel county. In her role as an area manager and dairy nutritionist, she applies her expertise to support farmers in optimising their nutrition strategies.

John Friel hails from a strong farming background, having grown up on a beef and sheep farm in County Donegal. His deep-rooted passion for agriculture led him to pursue a degree in Agricultural Science at University College Dublin, where he specialised in Dairy Production and Animal Nutrition. Over the years, John has gained extensive experience across various roles within the agricultural sector, with a particular focus on livestock nutrition. Driven by a commitment to continuous learning and development, he is dedicated to delivering practical, farm-level solutions that enhance performance and profitability.