The farm: “We run a suckler herd and store heifer system on a land base of 50ha. The farm is typical of the area, very fragmented with various land types. We sell all the bull weanlings directly off farm to a repeat customer and heifers are sold as weanlings or store heifers.”
Herd: “There are 25 cows, a mix of breeds, but mainly first- or second-generation Shorthorn or Simmental. We like to have a cow that is well able to rear its own calf on more marginal ground. We try to match cow type to the land with the bigger cows on the limestone land and the smaller cows spending summer on the wetter ground.”
Weather: “The last two weeks have been excellent around here. We got the first cut finished and saved some hay but there has been enough moisture in the ground to maintain a good level of growth.”
Breeding: “We use the Limousin bulls, Castleview Gazelle, Powerful Proper, and the Charolais, Lapon on the cows. For the heifers and last month of breeding for the cows we use the Angus bulls Lord Horatio and Deelish Wingman. Breeding for the heifers will start now. We calve them after the cows so we can get them to grass sooner after calving. They can get out straight away then and their calves hit the ground running.”
Teaching: “I teach English and history in Sacred Heart School in Westport so I’m part-time farming for nine months of the year and trying to fit the farming around the teaching for the school term. It’s flat out for the farm in summer and I’d be trying to make things easier for the weekends. There’s only so much you can do on a Saturday or Sunday when school’s back.”
Sunday: “Mayo are going in with no huge expectations because we’re up against red hot favourites Kerry. We’re in bonus territory and have been since we beat Meath. We’ve a young team but they’ve gone on this run and who’s to say it won’t take us a step further. I have a ticket for the upper Cusack and we’re there anyway so we’ll enjoy ourselves, come what may.”
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