'Good herdmanship is important. But I would depend on the vet to find me an answer'

摘要

Last year's FBD Young Farmer of the Year, Dermot O'Connor, comments on the role his vet plays in his expanding dairy herdAfter farming for a number of years with his father Tom in Shannagolden, Co. Limerick, Dermot started farming on his own when his father retired in 2012. He bought 150,000L of quota over four years (2008-2012) through a mil- production partnership, and he plans to further grow the herd from 100 to 150 cows by 2015. Since 2007, he has expanded the farm buildings and infrastructure, building a 72-cow cubicle house, improving the farm roadways and paddocks and, this year, he built a 14-unit milking parlour, which has room for further expansion.