FARMERS:THE SUDDEN arrival of snow over most of the country has created major difficulties for farmers who had not expected such harsh conditions so early.
Disruption to milk deliveries and to marts is expected this week as forecasters are predicting more frost and snow storms over the next seven days.
Frozen water pipes have caused major disruption on farms across the country, creating hardship for cattle and farmers.
Cattle require large amounts of water on a daily basis. For instance, a milk-producing dairy cow needs up to 50 gallons a day and a rule of thumb is cattle consume one gallon of water each day per 100lbs of body weight.
Kilkenny-based James Murphy said he, like many other farmers, was “caught unawares” by the early snow and frost but was fortunate to have winter fodder.
“I have had to feed hay to my sheep down here in Inistioge today because the snow levels are so high the sheep cannot get down to the grass which they would prefer.
“Many of the ewes are in lamb and it is not a good time for them to be stressed, and I hope this will not last too long.” he said.
Mr Murphy, who is chairman of the Irish Farmers Association’s sheep committee, said he had many reports from across the country about water supplies freezing up.
“I got caught myself on this one, and I have spent half the day trying to get water for the animals which is critical.”
He said neighbours were working together to ensure animals were watered and some were being taken out of their houses and driven to water sources.
Colm O’Donnell, a sheep farmer on the Ox mountains on the borders of Sligo and Mayo, said he was also surprised at the early arrival of the snow and frost.
“We already have six inches of snow down here but stock seem to be managing reasonably well. My sheep were not that interested in the hay I offered them this morning so they must still be getting down to pasture.”
He predicted problems at marts and meat factories this week. He had been unable to get transport for sheep to a factory today for a local Sligo/Leitrim producer group he co-ordinates.
“None of the secondary roads in this area have been gritted so there are difficulties about getting out to factories and marts,” he said.
“Unfortunately in this area we have a limited number of marts and there will only be two or three sales between now and Christmas, and these are very important sales days.”
Mr Murphy said there were also major difficulties travelling the secondary roads in his area.