Bill
E: edit@farmersjournal.ie
T: 01 419 9500
Bill O'Keeffe is a Nuffield Scholar and farms at Clara Co. Kilkenny with his father Philip and uncle Matt. They milk 180 spring calving pedigree British Friesian cows, supplying Glanbia Co-op.
Bill O'Keeffe on 05 Dec 2018
Farmer Writes: seven days of grass to graze
Bill O'Keeffe still has over 60% of his herd milking. They are producing 12.5l at 5.87% fat and 4.60% protein.
Bill O'Keeffe on 21 Nov 2018
Farmer Writes: settling into once-a-day milking
The cows have settled in very well to once-a-day milking over the last two weeks, writes Bill O'Keeffe.
Bill O'Keeffe on 07 Nov 2018
Farmer Writes: bloat claims four and Glanbia ventures into the US
The main health issue over the last few weeks has been bloat in both cows and young stock on Bill O'Keeffe's farm, while Truly Grass Fed has been on his mind too.
Bill O'Keeffe on 24 Oct 2018
Farmer Writes: making up for lost ground during the summer
Exceptional ground conditions over the last few weeks have made up in a small way for some of the lost ground this summer, writes Bill O'Keeffe.
Bill O'Keeffe on 10 Oct 2018
Farmer Writes: building covers and stretching grass for autumn
We are feeding 5kg of concentrate to keep building covers and stretching out grass as far as possible into the autumn, writes Bill O'Keeffe.
Bill O'Keeffe on 26 Sep 2018
Farmer Writes: reducing cow numbers in Kilkenny
We have taken the decision to reduce the cow numbers rather than heifer numbers as we head into the winter, writes Bill O'Keeffe.
Bill O'Keeffe on 12 Sep 2018
Farmer Writes: taking a look at 2019 cow numbers
We need to take a hard look at how many cows we are going to milk next year and make a few choices on that front, writes Bill O'Keeffe.
Bill O'Keeffe on 29 Aug 2018
Farmer writes: rain finally arrives in Kilkenny
Grass is starting to come alive again on Bill O'Keeffe's farm after much-needed rain.
Bill O'Keeffe on 15 Aug 2018
Farmer writes: moisture a scarce commodity in Kilkenny
Bill O'Keeffe is finalising an Italian ryegrass contract with a tillage farmer where he will buy the silage by the bale and the tillage farmer will take full responsibility for the crop.
Bill O'Keeffe on 04 Aug 2018
Farmer Writes: desperate times call for desperate measures
We will have to get more ruthless with decisions this year as there will be very little surplus feed in the system, writes Bill O'Keeffe.
Bill O'Keeffe on 18 Jul 2018
Farmer writes: credit where it’s due this week with Glanbia
Glanbia's extended credit scheme allows qualifying milk suppliers to purchase inputs over the next two months and spread the payments over the next two years.
Bill O'Keeffe on 06 Jul 2018
Farmer Writes: it's all about damage limitation
It's all about damage limitation and survival over the next few months in farming, writes Bill O'Keeffe.