The Clare farmer and the cow that keeps on giving

Jimmy Guinnane is a part-time suckler farmer from near Ennis in West Clare. He is a familiar face to many in the local area due to his main job which sees him making deliveries of Brennan's bread until 6pm most evenings.

However Jimmy is now becoming better known for being lucky enough to have one of the most productive cows in Ireland.

Since Jimmy bought the cow nearly 10 years ago, from Christy O'Gorman in Kilmurry McMahon, the black white head Hereford has produced seven sets of twins and four single calves within those last 10 years - 18 calves in total.

The cow, who came to the farm with a calf, birthed her first calf on Jimmy's farm in April 2006. She had twins after that four years in a row, another single calf in April 2011, a single calf in March 2012, and then another three sets of twins, the latest of which were born just over three weeks ago on Jimmy's farm.

"She's a great cow," Jimmy said. "She really has been one of the best investments I've ever made. I was very lucky when I bought her."

The Irish Farmers Journal has verified these birth figures with the Irish Cattle and Breeding Federation, figures which our contributor vet Tommy Heffernan says are "amazing."

"The most I saw was a cow who had four single calves and five sets of twins in total, 14 calves altogether, which I thought was spectacular and that was over a 12-year period," he commented.

Jimmy says the cow, who is now 13 years old, has a bit to go yet before she retires. "I'd say she's another four years and a few more calves in her yet," he laughed.

So what's the secret to her success?

"I don't know exactly," said Jimmy, "but I look after her very well now, that's for sure. She loves nuts and I feed her a lot of those!"

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