Karen
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Karen McCabe runs a 15-cow suckler herd in Drumlegga, Cloone, Co Leitrim.
Karen McCabe on 18 Dec 2024
Farmer Writes: a battle with front loader
Karen McCabe walked slap bang into the edge of the scoop on the front loader where she learned that head wounds do indeed bleed rather profusely.
Karen McCabe on 07 Dec 2024
Farmer Writes: cattle and supermodels
The young weanlings left in the shed have started to thrive since the older calves were sold.
Karen McCabe on 21 Nov 2024
Farmer Writes: hopes for more static stars
Hopefully there won’t be any major ratings change in the little Limousin heifer that was born this month as she’s growing bigger by the day, along with her character.
Karen McCabe on 06 Nov 2024
Farmer Writes: an abnormally warm autumn
Currently it is costing us around €100 each week to feed these weanlings, and while we rarely sell calves under 300kg, there is an excellent trade for light hairy heifers.
Karen McCabe on 22 Oct 2024
Farmer Writes: a good trade for weanlings
After weighing up the pros and cons of keeping our pedigree bull over the winter and selling him in spring, it was decided to bring him to a general mart sale.
Karen McCabe on 25 Sep 2024
Farmer Writes: autumn has crept in
We've noticed previously that heifers who do not go in-calf on their first insemination can be a problem, but more often than not a natural service will do the trick.
Karen McCabe on 11 Sep 2024
Farmer Writes: resilient suckler farmers
There’s an enormous amount of resilience in suckler farmers (this could also be termed stubbornness) and year after year we do what we can with what we’ve got.
Karen McCabe on 28 Aug 2024
Farmer Writes: cattle housed in August
At first the cows were rather indignant at being taken indoors so early in the year, writes Karen McCabe.
Karen McCabe on 20 Aug 2024
Farmer Writes: ragwort thriving in this weather
They say a woman’s prerogative is to change her mind and that certainly is the case with myself at times, writes Karen McCabe.
Karen McCabe on 02 Aug 2024
Farmer Writes: sound of summer returns
Despite the bad year with regard to weather, we’re very pleased with the calf quality this year, with two being suitable for showing, writes Karen McCabe.
Karen McCabe on 17 Jul 2024
Farmer Writes: holding out for hay
We finally got around to baling a few more meadows and adding 30 more bales into our winter stocks, writes Karen McCabe.
Karen McCabe on 03 Jul 2024
Farmer Writes: cutting rushes instead of grass
Our downed cow is finally starting to rise after almost three weeks and I don’t think there's a happier household in Ireland.