The Mountfarna herd has become one of the most dominant forces at all major bull sales around the country in recent years. This success didn’t come from nowhere, and this week John O’Callaghan told the Irish Farmers Journal all about the now 50-year-old herd based in the gateway to west Cork.

He said: “The farm at home has always and continues to be a family-run farm. There are 105 acres, all in one block and almost all surrounded by road. Both dad Tim and mother Margaret worked the farm full-time and raised four of us. We are located in two townlands of Farnivane and Mountpleasant in Newcestown, west Cork, hence herd name of Mountfarna, which was established by my father in 1970.”

Despite being the youngest, John stayed at home on the farm while the others went to college. Having attended Clonakilty Ag College and spending six years farming full-time, he explains he took the “mad decision” to go back studying primary school teaching in Mary Immaculate. “I continued to farm as much as I could with huge help from my parents. When finished I got a job locally in Bandon town and I have been teaching there since 2006. Eilish and I married in 2012 and have since had three children – Jack (6), Molly (5) and Charlie (3).”

Work

With John working full-time and Eilish also a full-time midwife, a decision was made to change things up in 2017.

“There were not enough hours in the day to get all the farm work done. We chose to go robotic milking with the Lely A4 and started in September 2017. We haven’t looked back since. I decided to job share in teaching, allowing me to catch up on all of my jobs on my week off and not running off my feet at the weekends like I used to. Quality of life is much more relaxed and with the robot we can come and go as we please. But the daily chores must still get done.”

While the farm setup may have changed in recent years, the family lines and breeding goals have very much stayed consistent. The now 70-cow mostly Holstein herd has been built up from the many family lines introduced to the herd over numerous years, and now averages over 800kg of milk solids. Initial foundation stock were purchased from the Dawstown herd, with more purchases from the North to introduce new bloodlines.

“The purchase of Kylefarm Janke 27 VG as a dry cow in 1990 had a huge influence on the herd. She went on to win the all-Ireland Protein cow the following year and left a great line of daughters in the herd. The purchase of many families from Denis Crowley of the Uacter herd has imprinted hugely on the herd also.”

John said his father Tim was one of the first to complete the DIY AI courses in 1973, which made it easier for them to utilise the best of British- and Irish-bred bulls from the outset. Breeding on the farm is still mostly AI.

“We calve all year round to maximise use of the robot. We feel as a result that we need less calving facilities, calf pens and a smaller number on the calf feeder at any one time giving each calf the best possible start.

“Anything calving from August to March get conventional semen and all other months and heifers get sexed. We use mainly Holstein bulls sourced from all over the world. We also use high-milk British Friesian bulls with the aim of producing a 50-50 calf that will have power and strength with plenty milk. The resulting bull calves always prove popular as breeding bulls.I could use up to 15 different bulls in the year. Usually picking only five to 10 straws of each bull max as one or even five bulls will not match all of my cows. There are hours and days of research when choosing bulls.”

These hours of research in sire selection are duly rewarded when it comes to bull sale time, with the Mountfarna herd always to the fore in championships and prices.

“These bulls are sold at the IHFA premier in Nenagh , Kilkenny and Bandon bull shows and sales or from home.

“We have been fortunate to have won many championships at all three events as well as great prices. It is my favourite time of year and I love the whole runup and days out. Watching a calf develop into a solid bull, to getting sent photos of their progeny gives us a great sense of achievement.

“This year was unprecedented with only one sale going ahead in March. We sold all other bulls by messaging details, photos and videos to customers. I delivered all bulls to their new farms or most of the way. We are lucky enough that 91% of bulls went to repeat customers. In recent years we have had regular customers at home for March- and April-born bull calves who want to rear them for their own use.”

Sales

Sales have always been a big part of the herd’s history, with an on-farm sale held every second year from 1978 up until 2002. Now, as mentioned, the bulls are all sold at sales or off farm, with most females not being retained sold as calves at home, usually to repeat customers.

In recent years, bull sales have been the herd’s form of promotion for its already established reputation but in the past the herd used to show also, something John would like to return to.

“We were regular show enthusiasts for many years. Our weekends were filled with GAA and showing all over Munster (they often clashed). We really enjoyed it and made great friends from it. As youngsters it taught us how to accept victory sportingly and defeat graciously, even if you didn’t agree with the judge! There was a great life lesson in that. It will soon be time to start training calves for my own three.”

While the herd mightn’t be out on the show circuit it is very much in the public domain, with five cows in the herd claiming diamond awards last year and four reaching 100t mark this year. This is on top of numerous herd competition placings at national level, with the herd now containing 25EX classified cows with an average score of VG88

“We are very happy with where they are at. We feel our cows are lasting longer and with less stress on the animal they are milking higher volumes even into their ninth and 10th lactation. I think we have increased efficiency and production in recent years and in turn we have more money in our pocket with less labour.