Last winter, 18,500 tonnes of animal fodder were imported, but even that figure is minuscule in the context of the ever-growing national herd.

Everyone is keeping their fingers crossed that they can make it through to the summer, writes Stephen Cadogan.

With all bar four of the 43 constituencies in the General Election finished counting, the country’s political scene has undergone a sea change.

Fine Gael's John Paul Phelan tops the poll in Carlow Kilkenny with 10,929 votes but has not reached the quota of 12,291.