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Cattle show
Cattle show
During the Summer, agricultural shows are hosted by communities throughout Ireland. A calendar of dates is available from the Irish Shows Association at (www.irishshows.org). Breeders of pedigree cattle, sheep and horses compete for the coveted rosettes, while there are numerous other events to entertain and amuse. The largest show on the calendar is the national livestock show held each year in Tullamore, Co Offaly (pictured). It attracts over 50,000 people and in 2011 hosted 1,900 cattle classes, as well as sheep, horses and countless other attractions (www.tullamore.com)
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Piggery
Piggery
Pigs live in a piggery. During a pig’s lifetime, it will live in three different houses within a piggery. A piglet begins life in a farrowing house where the sow will give birth. It will remain here until it is four weeks old. It will then be moved to a weaner house, where it stays until it is about 12 weeks old and approximately 32 kg in live weight. Following this, it will move to a finishing house, where it will reside until it is 6 months old and ready to be slaughtered at around 90 kg. Once a piglet is weaned and moved to the weaner house, the sow is moved to the dry sow house.
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Flock of sheep
Flock of sheep
A group of sheep is called a flock. There are many different strains or breeds of sheep in Ireland, with two main categories - hill/mountain breeds and lowland breeds. The lowland sheep are concentrated in the inland counties and low lying land, while the hill sheep are a hardier type more suited to the tough terrain of the mountains in the west and in Wicklow. Females that are over one year of age and that have given birth to a lamb are called sheep. A mature female sheep is called a ewe. A mature male sheep is called a ram and a castrated (neutered) male sheep is called a wether.
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Tagging
Tagging
Every calf in Ireland must be tagged and registered within 20 days of birth. This unique 12 digit identification number must be maintained throughout the life of the animal and all changes in status or ownership must be notified to the central Animal database maintained by the Department of Agriculture. The system generates 100% traceability which is important for public and animal health protection. The Animal Identification and Movement System (AIM) database produces detailed statistics on the Irish cattle herd each year (www.agriculture.gov.ie).
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Chickens
Chickens
Chicken meat is now the most popular meat in Ireland, with average consumption of 30kgs per capita. The industry is highly consolidated with only a small number of large scale growers who are closely linked to the processing firm. Ireland’s largest poultry firm is Carton Brothers in Co Cavan (www.chicken.ie). The company employs over 600 people and has 150 farmer suppliers. Meanwhile, Ireland’s largest producer of duck meat and associated products is Silver Hills Foods, based at Emyvale in Co Monaghan (www.silverhillfoods.com).
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Harvest
Harvest
Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney pictured driving a combine harvester as he assists in the barley harvest on his home farm at Roberts Cove in Co Cork. Cereals are types of grass with grains that can be eaten or used to make food. The main cereals grown in Ireland are wheat, oats and barley. Their seeds, which are called grains, are used to feed animals and to make food such as bread and porridge. “Milling Wheat” is used to make flour. A large proportion of the crop in Ireland is used for pig and cattle feed. Oats are used in porridge and in muesli. They are also important for use as a feed for horses.
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Oilseed rape
Oilseed rape
The distinctive bright yellow flowers of a crop of Oilseed rape, a member of the Brassica family. It is grown for its oil content and is increasingly popular in Ireland. There are two types grown in Ireland - Winter oilseed rape and Spring oilseed rape. Oilseed rape acts as a break crop in a tillage rotation in order to prevent the build up of cereal diseases. Winter oilseed rape planting almost doubled between 2010 and 2011; from 8,000ha to 15,000ha.
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Prize bulls at a show
Prize bulls at a show
Beef cattle breeding in Ireland is being advanced by the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (www.icbf.com). The organisation, based in Bandon in Co Cork, was established in 1997 and has as its mission “to achieve the greatest possible genetic gain in the national cattle herd for the benefit of Irish farmers and the industry”.
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Flahavans
Flahavans
An important user of organic oats grown in Ireland is Flahavans, a family business now in its sixth generation. There has been an oats mill at Kilmacthomas, Co Waterford since the late 1700's. An oatflaking facility was added in 1935. Today Flahavan's Progress Oatlets is an increasingly popular choice for breakfast in Ireland and abroad. Flavahans dominates the warm breakfast category in Ireland with their famous porridge and the company is also growing their exports to the UK and USA (www.flahavans.com).
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Cereals
Cereals
Ireland is a net importer of cereal grains, but there is a very specialised and efficient group of growers producing grain in Ireland for the home market. Crops are either sown in the autumn or spring, but all are generally harvested between July and September. Spring Barley (pictured) is the most popular cereal crop, grown by over 9,000 farmers in 2010. It is used for the malting, seed and feed industries. Winter wheat, winter barley and winter and spring oats are the other important grain crops produced in Ireland.
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