I milk: ‘‘120 cows that are 100% pedigree Holstein. They’re producing around 850 gallons a day with Butterfat at 3.9% and protein 3.31%. 40% of the milking cows are first calvers. We own 130 acres and rent almost as much as that again. We continuously calve from Autumn to Spring with no gap in the middle.’’

This week: ‘‘I have five cows left to calve that are due in the next 10 days. They’ve been out by day since February, but I had to bring them back in for three days as it was too wet. I let them out again on the April 8th. I plan to have them out at nights shortly if it dries up. The calves born last Autumn have been on grass for the last month and the replacement heifers were let out on 9th April. 40 units of Nitrogen is put on all the land. 18:6:12 was put on the paddocks this week. The freshly calved cows are getting 4kg/day of urea treated barley and a dairy blend in the parlour.’’

Silage: ‘‘I spread slurry on the silage ground in February and March and they are getting another 40 units of Nitrogen now. I hope to cut before May 20th. Two-thirds of the milking platform would be fairly dry anyway but the rest is too wet to graze yet. I have 25 acres of maize growing and we feed the cows fodder beet with the diet feeder during the winter. ’’

Calves: ‘‘We rear all our own replacement heifers and up until last year we sold the heifers from the Friesian mop-up bull. Our bull calves are exported with Wicklow Cattle Company.’’

ICMSA: ‘‘I’m chairman of the Wexford Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) and I’m also on the council. The meetings are usually at night so the chaps help out at home on those evenings and the council meetings are in Limerick four or five times a year.’’

Family: ‘‘I have a wife, Dorothy, and three sons. Philip (29) farms with me, David (27) works part time doing embryo transplants and farms at home also and John (18) is studying IT in Waterford.’’

Quotable Quote: ‘‘I’ve applied to switch to Strathroy and I’m happy enough with that decision. I don’t approve of Glanbia’s 7 year contract plus Strathroy won’t limit my winter milk volume. I plan to expand over the next few years; currently trying to build numbers and put up a shed.’’