The cows were back in the plot by the house. It will only happen twice more and we’ll be finished grazing for the year. If I was having a party, that’s where I’d want them. I’d want them to come over to the wire and be admired (the curious ones would anyhow) and we have lots of them that like a rub. But the partygoers would have to be farming folk.

Then I think about the night during the summer that our neighbours were having a party and they asked us if we might not have the cows in front of their house. I remember being flabbergasted but then you realise that not everyone understands farming or loves cows like we do.

When I stand in a field with cows the scent of sweet fresh grass and juices released by grazing delight my nostrils.

Cartoon by Clyde Delaney.

The aroma of their pelts and the countryside relaxes me and I don’t want to move away. The uninitiated smell cow dung and their noses twitch.

There’s a chasm between people on things like that. In this world where difference is important and possible, we must make allowances and understand.

Work done, more to do

Cows are at the part of the year where a lot of the work has been done. The large volume of milk has been produced and they are bulkier as the calves are growing in their abdomens. They like to walk slower and need more space in the parlour. It’s no harm to milk less in a row to allow them to be comfortable.

We’ve just completed scanning of both herds and the results are good. While the lads were fairly sure that breeding had gone well, you never know until the results are on paper. The new herd was done first as Colm wanted to make decisions about culling. I was at home so volunteered my services.

We appreciate gentle handling of our animals from technicians and professionals

I love watching Leo Healy at work scanning and I get the easy job of recording the results. Leo’s accuracy and easy manner with the cows always impresses me. We appreciate gentle handling of our animals from technicians and professionals that come on the farm to carry out work for us. It is top priority.

Forty of our own cows went to the second herd

On these busy days, Leo tells me that he could scan up to 500 cows. His son has now joined him in the business, which pleases him greatly.

Forty of our own cows went to the second herd and the rest were bought in from five other herds. Both herds had a 12-week breeding programme; six weeks of AI followed by six weeks of bulls.

My job was to do the recording on the ICBF recording sheets that had been printed off. Colm could have done it himself on the smartphone, but he knows I like doing it. The word from the men was that any less than 20% empty would be a good result for the “put together” herd.

Leo was up and down the ladder giving really accurate dates. We quickly began to get the picture that the news was good. It’s a bit like TB reading; I hold my breath for the results. We found one set of twins although you must never take that as the only one. Even Leo would caution on that.

The result was 15 cows empty out of 124, or 12%. Colm was well pleased. It is a great result after one season.

Home and away herd

I was working in school the day the herd was being scanned at home. I was disgusted! Again there was a fantastic result with four empty out of 119, or 3.3%, with three sets of twins expected.

It just proves that if you keep following the science, results will be achieved in time.

This year we have a third herd to consider and that is the heifer rearing outfit in Kildare. The results were awaited with anticipation because it is the first year we’ve sent away our heifers to be contract reared and it is a risk.

A low empty rate means a lower replacement

But thankfully the news is good there too. Two out of 43 empty, which equates to 5%. That’s an overall figure of 7.4% empty. A low empty rate means a lower replacement, which saves on cost, resulting in a more mature herd.

We’ll soon be talking calving dates and next spring. It never stops and that’s what makes it so interesting.