I farm: “I farm a total of 48 hectares, with part of this rented. I have 50 cows with 34 of these milking at the moment, as most of the autumn-calvers have been dried off.”

Figures: “Presently, the cows are producing an average of 23 litres, with 4.06% fat and 3.61% protein.”

Breeding: “I am milking all pedigree Holsteins; I use artificially inseminated sires on my cows. I use sexed semen on our heifers, which are due to calve in September, with the cows all due in October.”

Milk price: “We are producing a top-quality product, and all we are asking for is to be paid a fair price for our investment.”

IFA protest: “I was approached by the IFA to bring along one of my cows to the protest. As the cow I have previously shown is heavily in calf, I borrowed a cow, Baldonnel Silvia, for the day.”

Weather: “In contrast to many parts of the country, we are suffering from a lack of rainfall. Our high ground was badly burned in July, which has resulted in having to buffer-feed cows with silage. The grass is only starting to recover after the harsh weather and, hopefully, will be back on track in the coming week.”

Family: “I am married to Caroline and we have four children. Our eldest three are all working and our youngest starts college this week. One of my sons is working at home part-time on the farm alongside me.”

Quotable quote: “The income crisis facing farmers has to be highlighted. Hopefully, the protest has done so and been successful.”

Listen to John Murphy on our podcast report from Monday's IFA protest

The media scrum jostling for a picture of Baldonnel Silvia, the Holstein cow brought by John Murphy to the IFA protest on Monday 31 August