Bill
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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 21 Apr 2021
Farmer Writes: farmers need to meet challenges head on
These restrictions imposed by Glanbia indicate that this plant is needed for current cow numbers in the country, rather than an increase in cow numbers in the future, writes Bill O'Keeffe.
Bill O'Keeffe on 07 Apr 2021
Farmer Writes: moving calving forward to minimise peak milk fallout
We are moving calving forward by 10 days in our case, which will move peak production forward into late March or early April, writes Bill O'Keeffe.
Bill O'Keeffe on 24 Mar 2021
Farmer Writes: a demoralising week to be a Glanbia supplier
There was no indication when milk supply agreements were signed in good faith, that processing capacity would become an issue over the next few years, writes Bill O'Keeffe.
Bill O'Keeffe on 10 Mar 2021
Farmer Writes: milk suppliers have already paid for expansion
Milk has been farmed out to other processors with spare capacity across peak months at a significant cost, writes Bill O’Keeffe.
Bill O'Keeffe on 24 Feb 2021
Farmer Writes: on the home stretch with calving
We will try to have most of the replacement heifers for the year trained to the automatic feeder by the end of this week, writes Bill O'Keeffe.
Bill O'Keeffe on 10 Feb 2021
Farmer Writes: a steadier calving than usual
Bill O’Keeffe is heading into week four of calving in Clara, while bulls will be fertility tested.
Bill O'Keeffe on 27 Jan 2021
Farmer Writes: moving through the gears with calving in full swing
We have 40 calves moved onto the automatic feeder so far and the aim is to have over 200 calves on the two feeders by the end of February.
Bill O'Keeffe on 13 Jan 2021
Farmer Writes: calm before the calving storm
Bill O’Keeffe is getting set up for calving 2021 on his farm this week, with calving set to begin soon.
Bill O'Keeffe on 30 Dec 2020
Farmer Writes: glad to see the back of 2020
COVID-19 and Brexit hanging around like a bad smell means Bill O'Keeffe is happy to see the back of 2020.
Bill O'Keeffe on 16 Dec 2020
Farmer Writes: cows dried off and Brexit looms
Off farm, we seem to be rushing headlong into a huge disaster with a hard Brexit looking increasingly likely as we get closer to the end of year deadline, writes Bill O'Keeffe.
Bill O'Keeffe on 02 Dec 2020
Farmer Writes: investing in working smarter not harder
Bill O'Keeffe has taken a huge jump in terms of technology on the farm this year, with the electronics in the parlour and now monitoring the cow as well.
Bill O'Keeffe on 18 Nov 2020
Farmer Writes: hurdles keep rising for farmers
The hurdles keep rising for the farmer, some which are logical and make sense, and others that just create cost and cause confusion or even disillusion, writes Bill O'Keeffe.