I got a request to do a photo shoot on my dairy farm last week. The Irish Farmers Journal was looking for someone still milking cows at Christmas. My herd supplies manufacturing winter milk to Carbery Milk Products via Barryroe Co-op in West Cork.

Christmas Day is no different to any other day for a cow. It might sound mean to non-farmers but dinner must be the same every day. Doubling the grain or the beet would result in a herd of sick animals and a lot of washing up in the milking parlour.

The same as any farm we took the day off. That means doing milking and feeding but nothing that didn’t have to be done.

Working at Christmas isn’t something to complain about. Just like a nurse or Garda it is part of the job. Ever since I was old enough, or rather since I was allowed, I have done the Christmas Day milking. Originally it was as a present to my Dad but it has grown into being a time of calm. Many a farmer will head out to the shed to “check something” in the evening, possibly sanity.

And what is more festive than working with animals. The crib in the local church featured figures and animals. The children were asked to name each which was easy enough given the predominance of farming in the area. It was a crowded stable with lambs, a donkey and a cow. The camels would have been tied up outside with the reindeer.

Sorry, mixing the stories I know, but where would Christmas be without Rudolf and friends? The carrots must be left out with the glass of milk.

There is plenty of time in the new year to worry about prices. Take time to enjoy the animals. They can break your heart at times but for me it is a privilege to own them and care for them. Being used to seeing tourists’ reactions walking by the herd during the summer, I sometimes take pity on those that have to make do with the stuffed version.

Happy Christmas, whether you’re saying ho-ho-ho or how-how-how.