“We do not let it slip!”

April 2014: After a famous victory against the might of Manchester City, Steven Gerrard calls his teammates into a huddle to remind them of the importance of a tight calving interval.

His words have resonated with us in the last few weeks. By slightly delaying our breeding season in 2014 and using short-gestation bulls, we tightened our calving spread to nine weeks.

This year, the challenge is to pull the onset of calving back towards February. Though cow condition is ideal, the unsettled weather has done nothing to help our ambitions. Initially, breeding was slow. Four animals were served in 10 days. On Saturday last, things improved weather-wise and there have been four served in as many days.

That’s more like it.

With one eye on meeting BDGP targets, we’re using OZS, a five-star (maternal) LM bull on any non-LM sired cows. Out of 46 animals served in 2014, a total of 17 are at least 4 stars on the replacement index: we have a small bit of work to do.

Without a doubt, this is the busiest time of year here. Our main breeding group of 27 cows and calves run on an out-farm 8km away. The heifers occupy a separate block around 4km away; though we haven’t started breeding them yet. The remaining animals; cows and the youngest calves, are at home.

The main breeding group is checked three times daily at 8am, midday and 7pm. To accommodate the AI man, the handling pen is in the corner of the farm, along the road. Hence, when animals are grazing the furthest fields, separating animals can be laborious. If I'm alone, I bring the whole herd down and separate the animals required in the handling unit. If help is at hand, things obviously become easier and faster.

Some call it madness.

“You spend your whole summer running after cows!”

I show them the finishing bulls, last year’s batch of heifers or quote the herd’s fertility figures. The focus on a continuous influx of quality genetics; both for beef and replacement calves, is the heartbeat of the farm. Without it, as is the case on many Irish suckler holdings, a question mark could arise over economic viability. Admittedly, keeping the calving spread tight is a challenge and can be frustrating at times.

There are mornings when you spot one standing in the bottom field at 8.50am.

You’re on your own and you’ve somewhere to be at 9.00am...

‘Oh look, she’s a repeat.’

‘Is that a drop of rain I just felt?’

Close your eyes, take a breath, and think of weanlings with loins like garden kerbs.