Limerick farmer wins top award
Martin started farming near Newcastlewest, Co Limerick, with six cows and 11 acres, when his father died in 1988. He also worked as a kitchen fitter.
Seventeen years later, he has won one of the top cattle awards, his fitted furniture business employs 10, and today his building business, Glebe Properties, will start work on a 56-house development near Newcastlewest.
Despite his business commitments, Martin insists on milking his 50 cows at least once per day. “This is my golf,” says the businessman, adding that it’s the improvement of his pedigree cows that keeps him interested.
With two big wins at the National Livestock Show during the summer, and last Saturday’s prestigious title, Martin plans to generate extra revenue from his herd by selling young animals with elite dairying genetics.
At last Saturday’s show, prices reached €8,500 in the annual show auction of blue blooded Holstein Friesian heifer calves.
See next Thursday’s Farming section for more National Dairy show reports).
