Perched on top of one of a drumlin, a few miles outside of Mohill in south Leitrim, lies our small farm of 55ac, which I run with my father Michael.
With our daub land, lightly stocked is the way to go so we run a small herd of suckler cows and focus on quality over quantity.
Most years we have 15 calving down, though this depends on how the cows perform as we try to avoid buying in stock.
Half our cows are pedigree Limousins, used for both commercial and pedigree breeding.
The rest are commercial cows of various breeds including Charolais, Limousin, Blonde and a couple of Salers.
With such a small herd, we get to know the cattle very well and vice versa. Most are fussed over and each one has a pet name and a family history that would put a genealogist to shame. This year we have three replacement heifers being kept on, plus two pedigree bulls that will be sold in the next few months.
Karen McCabe farms with her father Michael McCabe on their farm in Drumlegga, Cloone, Co Leitrim. \ Philip Doyle
I’m halter training the older bull, a 14-month-old KZH (Kilskeagh Hill 16) bull and to say he is laid-back is an understatement.
A neighbouring farmer came to look at him a fortnight ago and gave him a smack with his hand to get up.
The bull turned his head, looked at him and went right back to chewing his cud, prompting the farmer to question if the bull was sick.
Docility is a big factor with our cattle. If we can’t manage them single-handedly, they move up the line for culling.
Out of a 13-year-old cow, I was looking for a replacement heifer, which I got. Unfortunately, she brought a twin brother with her, so there goes my five-star replacement heifer
All of our current cows can be handled easily enough, but due care is still taken to have a quick escape route, especially at calving.
None of our own bulls are retained for breeding here. We prefer the choice and quality of AI, not to mention the extra safety precautions a bull brings.
That said, we do allow our bulls to cover an animal before sale. This ensures his fertility for the buyer but it also allows us to see fully homebred progeny, which gives a great feeling of satisfaction. We primarily use Bova or Dovea bulls, though if a bull catches my eye or is breeding winners on the show circuit, I’ll buy an occasional straw elsewhere.
Last year, I used a mix of Belgian Blue, Limousin and Charolais on the commercial herd, while I’m trying out two new bulls, Loyal (LM4184) and Cavelands Jolly (LM2395), on the pedigree stock.
I’ve also put KZH on a cow who bred two good bulls by him already.
“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” is a common saying I use when a bull just seems to click well with a cow.
Karen McCabe farms with her father Michael McCabe on their farm in Drumlegga, Cloone, Co Leitrim. \ Philip Doyle
Our calving season began in March this year, with a surprise set of Charolais twins by Bivouac.
Out of a 13-year-old cow, I was looking for a replacement heifer, which I got. Unfortunately, she brought a twin brother with her, so there goes my five-star replacement heifer.
It was a vet job, as the cow presented her first calf as a true breach and passed no water bag until after the twins were both out.
Thankfully, the next two bulls calved uneventfully – a pedigree Limousin by Loyal and a shapey bull by JKS.
Once all four calves were tagged and dehorned, we couldn’t get them outside quick enough. Thinking back to this time last year, it’s such a comfort to have a spell of fine weather to turn them out into.
Perched on top of one of a drumlin, a few miles outside of Mohill in south Leitrim, lies our small farm of 55ac, which I run with my father Michael.
With our daub land, lightly stocked is the way to go so we run a small herd of suckler cows and focus on quality over quantity.
Most years we have 15 calving down, though this depends on how the cows perform as we try to avoid buying in stock.
Half our cows are pedigree Limousins, used for both commercial and pedigree breeding.
The rest are commercial cows of various breeds including Charolais, Limousin, Blonde and a couple of Salers.
With such a small herd, we get to know the cattle very well and vice versa. Most are fussed over and each one has a pet name and a family history that would put a genealogist to shame. This year we have three replacement heifers being kept on, plus two pedigree bulls that will be sold in the next few months.
Karen McCabe farms with her father Michael McCabe on their farm in Drumlegga, Cloone, Co Leitrim. \ Philip Doyle
I’m halter training the older bull, a 14-month-old KZH (Kilskeagh Hill 16) bull and to say he is laid-back is an understatement.
A neighbouring farmer came to look at him a fortnight ago and gave him a smack with his hand to get up.
The bull turned his head, looked at him and went right back to chewing his cud, prompting the farmer to question if the bull was sick.
Docility is a big factor with our cattle. If we can’t manage them single-handedly, they move up the line for culling.
Out of a 13-year-old cow, I was looking for a replacement heifer, which I got. Unfortunately, she brought a twin brother with her, so there goes my five-star replacement heifer
All of our current cows can be handled easily enough, but due care is still taken to have a quick escape route, especially at calving.
None of our own bulls are retained for breeding here. We prefer the choice and quality of AI, not to mention the extra safety precautions a bull brings.
That said, we do allow our bulls to cover an animal before sale. This ensures his fertility for the buyer but it also allows us to see fully homebred progeny, which gives a great feeling of satisfaction. We primarily use Bova or Dovea bulls, though if a bull catches my eye or is breeding winners on the show circuit, I’ll buy an occasional straw elsewhere.
Last year, I used a mix of Belgian Blue, Limousin and Charolais on the commercial herd, while I’m trying out two new bulls, Loyal (LM4184) and Cavelands Jolly (LM2395), on the pedigree stock.
I’ve also put KZH on a cow who bred two good bulls by him already.
“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” is a common saying I use when a bull just seems to click well with a cow.
Karen McCabe farms with her father Michael McCabe on their farm in Drumlegga, Cloone, Co Leitrim. \ Philip Doyle
Our calving season began in March this year, with a surprise set of Charolais twins by Bivouac.
Out of a 13-year-old cow, I was looking for a replacement heifer, which I got. Unfortunately, she brought a twin brother with her, so there goes my five-star replacement heifer.
It was a vet job, as the cow presented her first calf as a true breach and passed no water bag until after the twins were both out.
Thankfully, the next two bulls calved uneventfully – a pedigree Limousin by Loyal and a shapey bull by JKS.
Once all four calves were tagged and dehorned, we couldn’t get them outside quick enough. Thinking back to this time last year, it’s such a comfort to have a spell of fine weather to turn them out into.
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