A nice quiet morning, checking on cows at the farm after a big day yesterday.

I was interested to learn that Richard had another shed with his heifers (about 12 months old now) that will go down to a nearby agistment property in May to grow and get ready to have their first calf to an Angus bull. Apparently they are the easiest to calve. After the AI of best milking cows to a Friesian bull (sexed semen), they then also AI the replacement heifers with Angus semed before all cows go out with the Hereford bull that he owns. I met the bull too. Beautiful fella, or as Richard said he is "grand". Apparently both Friesian and Angus bulls are considered too flighty/dangerous so when his bull is finished, he won't consider buying an Angus bull. There is a major shortage of cattle in Europe with tuberculosis knocking out a lot of the herds. My phone obviously realised that I am on a dairy and so showed me prices for friesian calves ($250-$350 for up to 42 days old), and for the Angus cross and Hereford cross dairy calves. Richard explained that old dairy farmers will have them on formula in sheds until they are 12 weeks old, then they will go onto pellets and hay, before seeing grass for the first time in June to grow out. One of his cows was unwell too with a twisted stomach. This can happen in the 2 weeks after calving with the space left by the uterus meaning everything has too much room to move around. They had had the vet out to check but it might need a big operation. They certainly care for their stock! Wait until tomorrow. The sick little calf was also feeling better this morning!

For our exploring for the day, we went along to a smallish section of the SW coast called the Ring of Breagh. First stop was the Keilkill Ring of standing stones. As with many, they are quite inauspiciously placed in a now farm field with an info sign but not much else is known about them. Unfortunately for us, they were surrounded by deep mud, and there was some irritation about calf deep mud...plus an amusing video now floating around :(

After that we continued on to Healy's Pass that had been recommended by Richard the night before. A beautiful drive up through a glacial valley with tremendous folded and tilted rocks on the side of the mountains making for a lovely drive. Down across the other side we went, only to realise there were no major points of interest on the north side of that drive. So, we retraced our steps and went to the town of Glengarriff for Bronnie to have a look at some woolen/craft shops.

I sourced some Dubliner cheese (made from milk at our dairy!!!!) and also a nearby walk to a swimming spot looking out on the water that was quite nice. I never found the signposted "blue pool" but it was pleasant weather. I did get myself (finally) a new hat that is waterproof, should be good. Bronnie also got a wool cap that's super nice and warm.

Back to the farm for a rest and a relax before we tackle the famed Ring of Kerry tomorrow.