I farm: “About 38 acres, with about eight acres of this wet land. I usually buy in calves and sell them as stores at about 18 months but, this year, I’m going to try and finish them as I think I will leave more of a profit.”Calves: “I bought in 10 Friesian calves in February at two weeks of age from a dairy farmer in Cork for €90 each. I hope to buy more later in the year, all going well. They are out to grass straight away and have access to a shed just in case the weather gets bad.”
I farm: “About 38 acres, with about eight acres of this wet land. I usually buy in calves and sell them as stores at about 18 months but, this year, I’m going to try and finish them as I think I will leave more of a profit.”
Calves: “I bought in 10 Friesian calves in February at two weeks of age from a dairy farmer in Cork for €90 each. I hope to buy more later in the year, all going well. They are out to grass straight away and have access to a shed just in case the weather gets bad.”
Health: “It’s the best year I’ve had with them health-wise – no scour or no coughing. I put this down to the cleanliness of the shed and the calves being out. I have the power washer out every day and it’s the most used tool on the farm. They get injected for coccidiosis before they leave the farm in Cork and I vaccinate for blackleg when they come here.”
Grass: “Growth has picked up over the last week and allowed me the chance to get fertiliser out at about two bags of 18-6-12 to the acre for the silage ground.”
Education: “I’m only 17 and still in school but I manage to balance the school work with the farming. I go to the Abbey School in Tipperary. I’d have everything done in an hour in the morning before school and a couple of hours in the evening. I hope to study agriculture after school – maybe a dairy management course.”
Quotable quote: “I do the farming for the love of the job.”
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