Karen McCabe

Farmer Writes: no Belgian Blue bulls this year

Writing up the due dates and bulls used into our high-tech AI notebook, I realised it’s the first time in over 30 years that we’ve not used a single Belgian Blue bull.

FARMER WRITES 28 January 2026

Farmer Writes: no Belgian Blue bulls this year

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Farmer Writes: the first calf of 2026 arrives

Farmer Writes: the first calf of 2026 arrives

FARMER WRITES 14 January 2026

Farmer Writes: calving is set to start

Farmer Writes: calving is set to start

FARMER WRITES 30 December 2025

Farmer Writes: TB test passed with flying colours

Farmer Writes: TB test passed with flying colours

Farmer Writes: TB test passed with flying colours

FARMER WRITES 3 December 2025

Farmer Writes: winter arrives as cold snap moves in

Farmer Writes: winter arrives as cold snap moves in

Farmer Writes: winter arrives as cold snap moves in

FARMER WRITES 19 November 2025

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Farmer Writes: cattle housed for the winter

Farmer Writes: cattle housed for the winter

Karen McCabe has decided to bite the bullet and house cattle for the winter, while she will also speak at a women in farming event and had an unexpected visitor.

FARMER WRITES 13 August 2025

Farmer writes: housing on the horizon

Farmer writes: housing on the horizon

The majority of stock are still out on Karen McCabe’s farm in Leitrim, but she reckons housing isn’t far away and a successful day was had in Carrigallen.

FARMER WRITES 13 August 2025

Farmer Writes: weather, weanlings and winter preparation

Farmer Writes: weather, weanlings and winter preparation

Karen McCabe is getting ready for winter and weanling sales on the farm, and also had an unexpected visitor last week.

FARMER WRITES 13 August 2025

Farmer Writes: winter is coming

Farmer Writes: winter is coming

Karen McCabe is noticing the early signs of winter setting in on her farm in Co Leitrim.

FARMER WRITES 13 August 2025

Farmer Writes: waterfall in a feed passage

Farmer Writes: waterfall in a feed passage

Whilst I have no fear of heights (having taken up rock-climbing as a ‘relaxing’ pastime in college) there’s something about being on top of a ladder that has always given me the heebie-jeebies.

FARMER WRITES 13 August 2025

Farmer Writes: a welcome sup of rain

Farmer Writes: a welcome sup of rain

Only for a heavy dew most mornings we’d probably have seen a decline in grass growth in Leitrim.

FARMER WRITES 13 August 2025

Farmer Writes: more crosses than a convent

Farmer Writes: more crosses than a convent

Standing at the gate looking over one group of our cows, it got me thinking about how our herd has changed over the years.

FARMER WRITES 13 August 2025

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Strong cow health after calving – the key to a successful breeding season

The weeks after calving are one of the most critical periods in the dairy year. Cow health during this post-calving phase has a direct impact on milk yield, fertility and overall herd performance.

Strong cow health after calving – the key to a successful breeding season

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