Dairy farmer Pat Hennessy is in the middle of calving at Coarsetown Dairies, Athy. The newborn calves are handfed for the first 24 hours to help teach them how to suckle and then separated into pens where they are bucket fed. Junior cert student, Ben Purcell is on midterm and is helping out with feeding the newborn calves and Pat is showing Ben how to do this. \ Ramona Farrelly

Shane Purcell, Castlemitchell, Co Kildare, tillage and beef farmer feeding his bulls for fattening on a mix of meal, beet and straw which he feels works very well. \ Ramona Farrelly

Michael Fitzgerald, Ballycorkey, Ballinacarrigy, Co Westmeath feeds his Dairy Shorthorn cows. Michael milks this breed because he finds them an easy to manage herd involving less work. \ Ramona Farrelly

Matthew Halpin and Peter Thomas Keaveney spent 24 hours on the busy dairy farm of the Curran family in Ballylangadon, Grange, Co. Waterford. \ Donal O'Leary

Seen here are some prospective buyers at Ardee mart, including Michael Rafferty and his dad Jim, from Kilkerly, Co. Louth, having fun between sales. \ Ramona Farrelly

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