While the Irish Open was to be played without spectators over the weekend, this didn’t stop one farmer and his cattle from catching a glimpse of the action.
Suckler farmer Billy O’Kane from Crebilly, Ballymena, Co Antrim, stole the show when cameras spotted him sharing the view of Galgorm Castle golf course with his Stabiliser heifers. O’Kane told The Dealer: “I decided to check the heifers on Saturday afternoon and said I’d bring a deck chair and flask of tea with me.
“My mother joined me a short while after, everyone thought she was my wife. At 84, she definitely doesn’t look her age. I was complimented for giving her my seat – she did give birth to me after all.
“We were sitting watching the golf for about 20 minutes when my phone started buzzing with texts from my children informing me that I was going ‘viral’ on Twitter.
“It was a lovely afternoon with the sun shining and the heifers all looking well. We keep 220 pedigree Stabiliser cows and calve all at two years old. The heifers are bulled at 14 months and weigh roughly 560kg at calving.”
Stabiliser sucklers
The Stabiliser is a four-way hybrid, composed of Angus, Hereford, American Simmental, and Gelbvieh genetics.
O’Kane started his herd with imported embryos from New Zealand 23 years ago.
“They make the perfect suckler cow. Some of their best attributes include outdoor calving, only 2% assisted births, and superior feed conversion efficiency (FCE) which drives profitability,” said the former poultry processor.
“Stabiliser cattle are basically a chicken that goes moo. I compare them to poultry as their FCE has been dramatically increased through science and selective breeding. There is 40% less carbon per kilo produced compared to other breeds.”
Eight-year-old farming enthusiast Cathal Lyons has raised close to €5,000 for LauraLynn Children’s Hospice and for his local Castleblakney playground fund by waiting until his hair grew to a remarkable 15in before having his first ever haircut.
The young Galwegian donated his hair to the three good causes Foundation, a charity which helps people who have suffered hair loss.
The Dealer is told that Cathal is still taking donations for the charities through his GoFundMe page – ’Cathal’s cutting his hair for charities’.
Following Michael Darcy’s sudden retirement from politics, there’s a Seanad seat up for grabs. Pat Deering is first out of the blocks to register his interest. The Carlow dairy farmer was well-regarded as chair of the Oireachtas Agriculture committee in the last Dáil, but lost his seat in February’s election. “The agricultural sector needs representation,” he has told me. “Brexit could cause devastation. Now is no time for a novice to be representing farmers.”
Farmers will be pleased to know that grass-stained jeans are now a fashion trend. Designer brand Gucci has launched a new autumn range which features “Eco washed organic denim pants”, retailing for a jaw-dropping €680.
Mrs Dealer will be pleased to know that I am now a fashion icon. She can also spare herself the time trying to remove the stains from my jeans.
Could there be an opening in the market for secondhand farm jeans?
Mayo farmer James Prenty is opening his gates for a charity sheepdog trial this Sunday, 4 October, with all proceeds being donated to Pieta House and Inis Aoibhinn-Cancer Care West.
The sheepdog trial will take place on his farm in Newbrook, Claremorris, Co Mayo. Starting at 8.30am, the entry fee is €10 per dog, with entries limited to two dogs per person.
Joe O’Malley from Achill Island will be the judge on the day. COVID-19 restrictions must be adhered to.
To book your dog in, call James on 087-052 9815.
It’s great to see Irish livestock head across the water and do well for purchasers. English buyers are always welcome around the mart ringside and when stock do well, they generally come back. Rosanna Jupiter, a 2014-born pedigree Charolais bull bred by Wicklow breeder Pat Stephens and currently running in the Barker family’s Caylers pedigree Charolais herd, beat off some stiff opposition to be crowned supreme champion of the Great British Charolais summer show. The bull has also been breeding well, with two sons sold last year at £12,000 each.
Ella's inside job is deeply damaging