BETTER Sheep Farm Walk – Brian Keane

Brian and Blathnáid Keane farm 96 hectares (240 acres) alongside Brian’s father, John, his brother, Eoin, and his young son, Sean. Located in Garr, Davidstown, Enniscorthy, the farm is a mixed enterprise comprising sheep, cattle, and tillage.  In addition, approximately five hectares are dedicated to commercial forestry, while a further 10 hectares consist of disused quarries, groves, rivers, streams, and laneways.

Join us on Wednesday, 15 July at 7pm for a BETTER Sheep Farm Walk on the farm of lowland sheep farmer Brian Keane, Davidstown, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, Y21 XOY2.

Brian has commenced farming organically since the 1st January 2026. The farming operates at 190 mid season lambing ewe flock, consisting of Belclare, Charollais, Suffolk and Texel genetics selling lambs for slaughter. 20 Continental cross suckler cows make up the beef enterprise. These cows are mated to a Charolais bull calving in the spring annually with offspring being sold the following spring at 12-14 months of age. On the tillage side, the crop mix has changed dramatically because of the change to organic farming.  Traditionally growing malting barley, wheat and beans the new crops now consist of Red Clover (for silage), Barley, Peas and Oats mix and Wheat and Beans mix.  Since joining the Teagasc BETTER Farm Sheep Programme, the Keane family have made big improvements in flock health, nutrition, breeding and genetics.

Topics to be discussed include:

• Introduction to the Keane farm, farm performance and the changes made required for Organic farming.
• Lameness control and view the new sheep handling facility to improve animal handling on the farm.
• Maximising Lamb Performance, ensuring as many lambs as possible are sold off grass and controlling internal parasites in the sheep flock.
• Maximising Ewe Body Condition Score and preparing for mating.

Find out more about the BETTER Farm Sheep Programme here