My Farming Week – Robert Ovens – 02/04/2012
My name is Robert Ovens. I farm in West Fermanagh and have approx. 50 suckler cows. I keep all the calves until around 18 months of age. This year I also fed a number of bulls and some of these will have gone for slaughter by the time this article is published. I am undecided as to whether I will keep bulls again as they are difficult to manage.
Due to the improving ground conditions I have turned out 6 heifers that are not due to calve until the Autumn. Slurry tanks are full and hopefully I will be able to lower them if the good weather continues. The water level in Lough Erne is very low at present so I am taking the opportunity to repair boundary fences which extend into the lake. I am also weed-licking meadows to get rid of the rushes. Calving has also resumed after a two month break.
Robert feeding some of his bulls