There’s something very comforting about being indoors next to the fire on a dark winter evening, when the wind is whipping around the house and rain pelting against the windows, especially in December, when Christmas decorations and twinkly lights add a touch of festivity.

Though I’m sure our latest storm caused a few disquieting flashbacks to January, when lights that weren’t supposed to flicker went off a time or two.

We had a similar turbulent forecast for the local tractor run, which was held to raise funds for the upkeep of the defibrillators in the vicinity.

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Originally this had been arranged as a once-off event by our family when we were raising money for Beaumont Hospital after my father’s deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery for his Parkinson’s, but due to interest in the following years it has turned into an annual get-together.

Despite the damp and dreary weather, we had a great turnout and the hardier sorts headed off into the wilderness on their tractors, before returning for a hot meal and raffle in the community centre.

With a full house dipping generously into pockets €950 was raised for the worthy cause and some brave souls even ventured onwards for a second run being held in another town nearby.

The cows have all been lucky enough to avoid yet another trip up the crush this year as their faecal samples showed a minimal need for any further dosing for fluke/worms. I must say I’m rather glad as it’s a chore nobody looks forward to even with a hook drencher to make the job easier. Similar to loading cattle, it’s a frustrating couple of hours, with no obvious signs of a job well done afterwards.

At least with the former you can see animals move from point A to B, whereas with drenching all you get are disgruntled stock and a messier pen to clean out for a few days.

It always amazes me how quickly animals come to learn a routine. When we started to feed our replacement heifers, there were only a couple of days where we had to shoo them back from the feed barrier and into an adjoining pen for their nuts. Now each morning they are ready and waiting for the gate to be opened and swung shut after them without being latched. Once the trough is licked clean they know to nudge the gate forward to let themselves out to the silage, though I’m just waiting for the day a cow learns to push the gate inwards and all that training will go down the swanny.

Red roan calf

Occasionally the two five-month-old heifers will also sneak in alongside them for an extra nibble, despite a fresh portion being left for them after the older two leave.

It allows us to compare them more accurately against their older peers and it’s left me with a slight conundrum over the red roan calf of mine; to sell or serve next year. She’s progressively expanding in the rear end (like most of us may be with the next couple of weeks feasting on tins of sweets and biscuits) and whilst it’s nice to see in a bull, it doesn’t bode well for her breeding prospects here.

With her dam scanned to be carrying a heifer calf again there’s no pressing need to keep her for a replacement but as she is quiet and halter-trained I’d be sorry to see her go. They say money can’t buy happiness, but unfortunately happiness won’t pay the bills alone, so much will depend on how trade fares in the weanling ring next spring as she has already attracted a few willing bidders if she were to be put on the market.

And on that note, the McCabe family would like to wish everyone a Happy Christmas and a prosperous new year.

It’s certainly been an interesting year in the farming calendar with record prices alongside trials and tribulations, but at least we can never say farming is boring.