The Dairy Trail

Katie Gleeson, a dairy farmer from Templemore, County Tipperary, shares her journey into dairy farming at the National Ploughing Championships 2026. 
She discusses her transition from hairdressing to farming, the operations on her farm, and the challenges faced during a drought year. Katie also highlights her involvement in Dairy Women Ireland and her efforts in agri-communications through social media.
Brought to you by NEDAP.

In the latest episode of Agriland's limited podcast series "The Dairy Trail", technical dairy specialist, Cathal O'Shea visited the farm of Paul and Judith Davoren in the Burren in Co. Clare.
The Davoren family are milking a herd of Fleckvieh-cross cows on a once-a-day milking system.
The farm is based in a unique area of the Burren, bringing its own challenges when it comes to grassland management, conservation and farming alongside an important part of Ireland’s natural landscape.
Paul and Judith talk us through their decision to move away from British Friesian cows, the benefits of Fleckvieh breeding, the move to once-a-day milking, the difficulties of a tough grazing season, and supplying milk for locally made Burren cheese.

In the latest episode of Agriland's limited podcast series "the Dairy Trail", technical dairy specialist, Cathal O'Shea visited the farm of Kieran Lynch in Macroom Co. Cork.
 
The Lynch family is a milking just over 300 water buffalos as well as rearing all replacements and stock bulls themselves.
 
The farm does not supply any milk co-op, with all the milk processed into cheese and yogurt on farm.
 
Kieran talks us through the decision of ditching the cows for buffalo, as well as explaining the what is involved in farming a herd of buffalo, from breeding and calving, to grassland management and cheese making.

In the latest episode of Agriland's limited podcast series "the Dairy Trail", technical dairy specialist, Cathal O'Shea visited the farm of Michael Guinan in Co. Offaly.
 
Michael is milking 118 Montbéliarde cows through two robotic milking machines just outside of Tullamore alongside his wife Concepta, and his son Kevin.
 
He talks us through the decision of moving to robotic units back in 2021, and how they have integrated in to the farm system since. 
 
We hear about the upcoming breeding season, and the criteria used to deliver optimum calves that suit the system.
 
Michael also talks us through his grazing season so far and how he has got on with spreading nutrients beside the Grand Canal.

In the latest episode of Agriland's podcast series "the Dairy Trail", technical dairy specialist, Cathal O'Shea visited the farm of Edel and Domnic Curtin in Co. Clare.
 
The Curtins run a busy operation, balancing the dairy herd alongside shift work, with both Domnic and Edel active members of An Garda Síochána
 
We chat to the duo about their farm system, navigating a tough grazing season, planning for the upcoming breeding season, as well as reflecting on the recent calving season. 
 
And with three children on the farm, we hear about the farms desire for top notch safety, which has led them to their recent decision to install an underpass.