Degree: “I am a third-year animal and crop production student at University College Dublin (UCD), currently on professional work experience with Clondrisse Pig Farm in Co Westmeath.”

University College Dublin: “I chose UCD as it’s the biggest college in Ireland with over 1,000 students studying agriculture there. The degree is broad and diverse while at the same time allowing students to specialise into their most preferred topics. Animal nutrition and reproduction have been the most interesting modules so far.”

Our farm: “My father Kevin is a full-time sheep farmer. We keep Texel, Charollais, and Suffolk ewes on 120 acres. Texels make up the majority of our flock and are well suited to our outdoor lambing system, which reduces cost and the potential for disease.”

Experience: “In January I began 30 weeks of professional work experience as part of my degree. Currently I am working on Clondrisse Pig Farm, which has over 600 sows. Pig farming is an intensive enterprise but many of the goals remain common with other farms such as reaching the breeding potential and efficient feeding.”

Electronic tagging: “I was happy to see the introduction of the Electronic Identification Tagging (EID) for sheep in Ireland as it has given our lamb greater opportunities in overseas markets. The data gathered through the EID system has huge potential for further progress in sheep genetics.”

Future goals: “After college I hope to get a job in research while continuing to farm part-time at home. Through college placements at Teagasc research farms in the coming months I will get my first opportunity to experience the role of a researcher.”

Quotable quote: “There is great potential to increase profitability and efficiency on sheep farms in Ireland by employing some of the existing practices seen on beef, dairy, and pig farms. A greater emphasis on the importance of high-production genetic traits is a good place to start.”

Read more

The next generation: Hannah Dinan, Clarecastle, Co Clare

The next generation: David Cronin, Dunmanway, Co Cork