I farm: “Around 140 acres on the banks of the River Blackwater and I honestly think we’ve some of the best land in Ireland. I was milking cows for 40 years but got out of them this March and just have the heifers now. I also have three horses in training and a few broodmares. I ride them out myself every morning.”
Cows: ”I had 120 pedigree Shorthorn cows, they’re lovely cows an???d great milkers. I had Friesians for years but I was having awful issues with lameness, getting them in calf and I found they were only staying in production for three or four seasons.”
Heifers: ”I have 40 in-calf Shorthorn heifers and they’re getting maize and silage at the moment. I used to sow maize every year for the cows. All the heifers are in the shed three weeks now at this stage. I plan on selling them and I might buy a few cattle then.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Hay: “I made 5ac of hay this year for the first year because I had the grass to spare. I had silage left over from the cows and that’s what I’m giving the heifers.”
Tillage: ”I sowed 55ac of spring barley this year which I haven’t done since the 1970s. I also sowed oats for the horses and have my own roller here on the farm. I went into the Tillage Incentive Scheme this year which was worth a good bit to me. I’ll sow another bit again because the scheme is continuing into next year.”
Scheme: “I’m in the Glanbia voluntary retirement scheme so I can’t milk again for five years. At the time they thought they were going to have too much milk so this was a scheme they offered. It pays all right, I wouldn’t have gotten into it otherwise. If my son was interested in farming, I’d go back at it but I’d have to put in an underpass and a few other bits.”
Register for free to read this story and our free stories.
This content is available to digital subscribers and loyalty code users only. Sign in to your account, use the code or subscribe to get unlimited access.
The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
CODE ACCEPTED
You have full access to the site until next Wednesday at 9pm.
CODE NOT VALID
Please try again or contact support.
I farm: “Around 140 acres on the banks of the River Blackwater and I honestly think we’ve some of the best land in Ireland. I was milking cows for 40 years but got out of them this March and just have the heifers now. I also have three horses in training and a few broodmares. I ride them out myself every morning.”
Cows: ”I had 120 pedigree Shorthorn cows, they’re lovely cows an???d great milkers. I had Friesians for years but I was having awful issues with lameness, getting them in calf and I found they were only staying in production for three or four seasons.”
Heifers: ”I have 40 in-calf Shorthorn heifers and they’re getting maize and silage at the moment. I used to sow maize every year for the cows. All the heifers are in the shed three weeks now at this stage. I plan on selling them and I might buy a few cattle then.”
Hay: “I made 5ac of hay this year for the first year because I had the grass to spare. I had silage left over from the cows and that’s what I’m giving the heifers.”
Tillage: ”I sowed 55ac of spring barley this year which I haven’t done since the 1970s. I also sowed oats for the horses and have my own roller here on the farm. I went into the Tillage Incentive Scheme this year which was worth a good bit to me. I’ll sow another bit again because the scheme is continuing into next year.”
Scheme: “I’m in the Glanbia voluntary retirement scheme so I can’t milk again for five years. At the time they thought they were going to have too much milk so this was a scheme they offered. It pays all right, I wouldn’t have gotten into it otherwise. If my son was interested in farming, I’d go back at it but I’d have to put in an underpass and a few other bits.”
If you would like to speak to a member of our team, please call us on 01-4199525.
Link sent to your email address
We have sent an email to your address. Please click on the link in this email to reset your password. If you can't find it in your inbox, please check your spam folder. If you can't find the email, please call us on 01-4199525.
ENTER YOUR LOYALTY CODE:
The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
SHARING OPTIONS