Leinster sheepdog trials

Edward Cahill with his dog Sam and Pat Doyle with his dog Maid at the Leinster Sheepdog Trials at Raheen Cross, Rathanna, Co Carlow. \ Patrick Browne

Robert Thompson in Co Westmeath

Robert Thompson from Castletowngeoghegan, Co Westmeath, farms in partnership with his brothers John and Paul. These pedigree Holstein Friesian in-calf heifers were reared until in-calf on their father John Thompson’s farm in Leitrim before being returned to Castletowngeoghegan. \ Philip Doyle

PJ McGrath in Co Kilkenny

Dairy farmer PJ McGrath from Clogh, Co Kilkenny, has had his in-calf heifers housed for the past 10 days. He also farms beef, but has found himself waiting for better factory prices before selling, as there is very little profit in beef at the moment. \ Philip Doyle

John McGrath in Co Limerick

John McGrath is a beef and sheep farmer at Anglesboro, Co Limerick. John buys 80 Angus and Hereford calves each year, selling the heifers as stores and finishing the bulls to beef. He also has 100 Texel- and Suffolk-cross ewes that lamb in March, with all lambs heading to the factory from August on. \ Donal O’Leary

Pat Ramsbottom in Co Laois

Pat Ramsbottom is a suckler farmer in Park Lower, Co Laois. He has had some of his animals housed for the last three weeks. \ Philip Doyle