Martin Merrick

mmerrick@farmersjournal.ie

Barrett Engineering launches calf additions to adult crate at Ploughing 2026

Adding a solid calf box to its manual squeeze crush allows for weighing, dehorning and other tasks to be completed safely.

BUILDINGS 17 September 2026

Barrett Engineering launches calf additions to adult crate at Ploughing 2026

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Beef Management: SCEP, weaning and Beef Welfare

Beef Management: SCEP, weaning and Beef Welfare

MANAGEMENT 16 September 2026

MartBids Database: positive beef trade for Ploughing week

MartBids Database: positive beef trade for Ploughing week

MARKETS 16 September 2026

Pitfalls in applying for TAMS highlighted at Roscommon farm walk

Pitfalls in applying for TAMS highlighted at Roscommon farm walk

Pitfalls in applying for TAMS highlighted at Roscommon farm walk

BUILDINGS 16 September 2026

Grass+ Beef: September growth continues strong

Grass+ Beef: September growth continues strong

Grass+ Beef: September growth continues strong

GRASS & FEEDING 16 September 2026

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Tully open day highlights benefit of CBV and importance of accurate data records

Tully open day highlights benefit of CBV and importance of accurate data records

Data from the Tully Research Centre showed that the CBV is working while the importance of accurate on farm data collection was critical, writes Martin Merrick.

MANAGEMENT 9 September 2026

Watch: JFC founder launches memoir at Ploughing 2026

Watch: JFC founder launches memoir at Ploughing 2026

JFC founder John Concannon has put pen to paper in his new book, ‘The Bucket Man’, charting his journey from buying calves in Kilmallock to building a €150m company.

NEWS 9 September 2026

Camera at the mart: mules top out at €400/head in Tuam

Camera at the mart: mules top out at €400/head in Tuam

Similar to other breeding sales, prices were understandably back, though quality lots still saw prices over €300/head paid.

MARKETS 9 September 2026

Key design elements when building a slatted sheep shed

Key design elements when building a slatted sheep shed

Slats are an increasingly popular feature of new sheep housing for several reasons. Martin Merrick goes through some of the key parameters required to successfully build one.

PLOUGHING 9 September 2026

The Grass Week: growth finally takes off in southeast

The Grass Week: growth finally takes off in southeast

Growth rates in the southeast are rivalling April and May growth in some cases, as the combination of rainfall and heat have finally married together.

GRASS & FEEDING 9 September 2026

Higher CBV animals eating less and killing into heavier weights in ICBF centre

Higher CBV animals eating less and killing into heavier weights in ICBF centre

Data collected on both suckler-beef and dairy-beef animals have shown that the EuroStar rating associated with CBV is closely aligned to overall profitability.

NEWS 9 September 2026

MartBids Database: majority of cattle still going direct to slaughter

MartBids Database: majority of cattle still going direct to slaughter

Roughly 10,000 bullocks went direct for slaughter last week of the 14,630 that passed through lairages, as opposed to passing through a mart ring first.

MARKETS 9 September 2026

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Patrick and Valerie Sheehy: building better cows from day one

Achieving average weaning weights of 112kg doesn’t happen by accident. For Patrick and Valerie, it starts with calf management, high-quality nutrition and investing heavily in the first 70 days

Patrick and Valerie Sheehy: building better cows from day one

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