I farm: “I have free-range hens and suckler cows with a few sheep too in Virginia, Co Cavan. The hens would be the biggest aspect of the business here.”

Hens: “I have six houses and 18,000 birds. I started off in 1991 and have grown the business from there. Thankfully, I’ve two great staff. The hens are a Lolhman Brown breed.”

Eggs: “The hens are producing about 1,400 dozen (16,800) eggs per day. I supply eggs into Clonarn Clover, Nestbox and Greenfield Foods. They then in turn supply all the major retailers in the country.”

Free range: “When I started off, only 5% of the eggs sold in Ireland were free range. That figure is now 30%. Consumers want eggs and especially free range eggs. They’re convenient and easy to make and there is more demand for them. About 60% of all free-range egg producers come from Cavan and Monaghan.”

Bird flu: “The outbreak of bird flu in 2016/17 was a very tough time for all poultry producers. We were the only country in Europe that kept bird flu out of the commercial flock. We had to go from being free range to being barn reared but thankfully the consumer kept buying eggs.”

Future: “I’m happy where I am but I’m open tO looking at expansion in the future. The costs are high. Feed accounts for about 70% of your total costs.”

Sucklers and sheep: “I run 20 suckler cows and have 60 ewes too. I like having stock about the place.”

IFA: “I’m involved in the national poultry committee with the IFA too. Myself and the previous chair, Nigel Renaghan, worked hard to get TAMS delivered for the poultry sector for the first time.”

Recruitment: “I also run a farm recruitment company called PW Plus Recruitment. We work with farmers, mainly dairy farmers, to get staff on to farms. There has been a definite spike since quotas went. Demand is outstripping supply.”

Family: “I’m married to Marie and we have two children. Ben is seven and Jennifer is five. They’re both great wee farmers.”

Quotable quote: “The hens are the real business, if I didn’t have the sucklers and the sheep maybe I’d be at golf.”

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