Busy making a go of the forgotten sector
As he tries to juggle lambing season with his job as a block layer, the development of a newly purchased farm not to mention family life, it’s fair to say Oliver Keaskin has a lot of balls in the air.
While Oliver’s busy, sheep farming is his passion and he wouldn’t change it.
“I purchased a new farm last year with my wife Claire, she’s from a suckler and beef farm, but I got her into sheep. She is also just finished her Green Cert.
“The farm used to belong to my uncle who passed away a few years ago, but none of his family wanted to work in farming so we bought it. We’re in the middle of building a new sheep shed and are also doing up a house on it, so we’re busy.”
While buying land is a big commitment Oliver is happy to have a place he can call his own.
“It’s a lot of responsibility and it will take a lot of work to pay back the farm, it won’t be simple. But I’m happy to be able to be farming in my own right. We always wanted our own place, farming is what I want to do.”
Oliver has just begun his second block of lambing, which he says won’t last long but is very intense.
“We lamb in two blocks, the first one is in February and the second one started on April 1. Our pedigree ewes lamb first which is a mixture of Rouge De L’Quest and Dutch Spotted. It lasts for around two weeks with four or five born a day. It can be very intense but it’s what I like.
“In the second block, we lamb a mixture of Texels the other pedigree breeds, using our own Spotted Dutch rams for the first time, so we’re interested in what they will throw up.” Oliver’s pedigrees aren’t common in Ireland, but he says they have all the traits to become very popular.
“They’re aren’t many Rouge in Ireland, but they’re becoming widespread, they’re very easy lambing and are quick to get up and suck so it makes them ideal for people who work off the farm.
“Myself and Claire are joint secretaries for the breed society. We got Dutch Spotted last year, but it’s more of her venture. They’re new in Ireland - quiet, fast thriving, and have a distinctive colour pattern.”
Honour
Attending shows is a big passion for Oliver and he has enjoyed much success.
“We won first place at Tullamore Show for three consecutive shows. I won national champion and reserve champion. It’s a big honour for me, it’s the biggest show in the country. We won the Rouge All Ireland ram lamb and the ewe lamb in 2022.
“Going to shows is one of the main things I enjoy about sheep. It’s good to boost the profile of your flock, but you also get to go out on the road and meet a lot of people.”
The show season runs most weekends from late May to September all over Ireland. This year they will have their eight month old son Tommy in tow.
“You could say it’s time-consuming if you looked at it like a job, but I really enjoy it so I don’t mind.”
Oliver notes the lack of sheep farmers locally, and suspects it’s almost an afterthought in the wider agricultural industry.
“There hasn’t been much encouragement for the next generation to get into sheep. The average flock owner is aged over 60. There’s been a big push to get into dairy and everything has its place, but sheep have been forgotten. There are a few farmers who keep 20-30 ewes in Cavan, but it’s mostly sucklers and beef, with a bit of dairy.”