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 13 Feb 2019
Farmer Writes: pressure easing after burst of calves
It can get very intense for a short period of time at calving, writes Bill O'Keeffe, with two-thirds of the herd now calved.
Bill O'Keeffe on 30 Jan 2019
Farmer Writes: calved cows out grazing day and night
Over 100 cows have calved down on Bill O'Keeffe's farm, with bull calves for beef starting to move off the farm in a week or so.
Bill O'Keeffe on 16 Jan 2019
Farmer Writes: making the most of the good conditions as calving starts
Seven new arrivals have landed on Bill O'Keeffe's farm in Kilkenny, while farm covers are sitting at 1,200kg DM/ha.
Bill O'Keeffe on 02 Jan 2019
Farmer Writes: waving goodbye to the weather extremes of 2018
Bill O'Keeffe reflects on the meteorological extremes of 2018 and looks forward to calving in 2019.
Bill O'Keeffe on 19 Dec 2018
Farmer Writes: when a top-up becomes a prop-up
Glanbia is always seen as being a very innovative milk processor, but this Christmas it has outdone itself completely, writes Bill O'Keeffe.
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.