Why sheep are cream of the crop for the Flanagan family in Co Mayo

The Flanagans are one of only a small number of farms that have their flock for milking. Picture: Julia Dunin

Pursuing new opportunities and diversifying your enterprise involves a “steep learning curve”, according to Aisling Flanagan of Rockfield Dairy, and while it has been a tough year for the family farm and business enduring increased input costs, the demand for their products is “growing at a fairly strong rate”, she said.

Ms Flanagan and her husband Michael have a “rare enough” farm in Ireland, from which comes their Velvet Cloud brand range of grass-fed sheep milk products, including yoghurt and cheese, which are handmade on the farm near Claremorris in Co Mayo.