We have a very scenic farm here in Bartlemy, near Fermoy in Co. Cork. I am a full-time farmer (although I am semi-retired!).
I breed Herefords and I also keep commercial Hereford cross cattle, which are progeny from continental cows crossed with a Hereford bull. Choosing the right bull is very important and I use a combination of stars/indexes and visual assessments to make sure I’m happy with my selection. I find that even when the Herefords are crossed with other breeds, the age for slaughter can still be significantly reduced, all of mine are slaughtered under 24 months.
I like to get the cattle out to the spring grass early and I run a paddock system to ensure the quality is maintained. I take soil samples every 3-4 years to monitor nutrient levels. I make silage early in the year for the winter, as it is a vital part of the overall system and making it with early spring grass ensures quality. I leave the cattle out as long as possible, but when I do bring them in, I am very careful not to overcrowd the sheds and I use straw bedding or rubber matting to ensure their comfort.
My wife Lisa is a retired schoolteacher and my daughter followed in her footsteps and is currently a primary school teacher in our local school in Bartlemy. My son is finishing an arts degree in UCC, and he helps me on the farm when he is home. When I have spare time, I love to watch my kids play GAA, Trish still plays both football and camogie. I’m also still very interested in the showing of Herefords, especially Hereford bulls, it’s been a passion of mine for a long time, but at 64 I feel like I’m getting a bit too old to be in the ring myself.
Herefords respond well to good quality fresh grass.
Our farm has a mix of trees with ash, oak, and evergreens all over the property and most of our fields are surrounded by hedgerows which are great for the local wildlife.
I think the IHP bonuses are good for farmers and IHP has helped to develop a demand for Hereford beef over the years. I believe it would be great to get more information out there into the public about the importance of food origins and food production in general.
