Sheep, sucklers and sheepdogs

Dan Morrissey and Mona Rehn checking the flock on their farm in Knockcurra, Cloneen, Co Tipperary. \ Philip Doyle

Besides being a sheep and suckler farmer, Dan also takes part in sheepdog trials and holds training clinics across Ireland and Europe. \ Philip Doyle

My Farming Week: Tommy Ryan, Upperchurch, Coarsepark, Co Tipperary

Tommy Ryan on his farm in Coarsepark, Borrisoleigh. Tommy is a dairy farmer from Upperchurch. He lined out in midfield for Borris-Ileigh last week and will be heading for the All-Ireland club hurling final on 19 January.

This week Tommy is getting a calf shed ready for calving. He artificially inseminates all the cows for the first month and has a Limousin stock bull to mop up. \ Odhran Ducie

Tommy Ryan and his brother Eoin. \ Odhran Ducie

Tommy Ryan with the Dan Breen Cup (Tipperary club senior hurling championship) which he won with his club Borris-Ileigh. \ Odhran Ducie

John Walsh feeding his cows at Knocknaskeagh, Cappoquin, Co Waterford

John Walsh tidies up the silage after feeding his cows at Knocknaskeagh, Cappoquin, Co Waterford. \ Donal O' Leary

John Walsh walking through and checking his cows. \ Donal O' Leary

John milks 100 cows and is gearing up for the start of calving on 1 February. \ Donal O' Leary

Tom Burgess producing traditional cheddar cheese

Dairy farmer Tom Burgess on his farm in west Wicklow with his Jersey-cross cows. \ Claire Nash

Tom uses the summer morning milk produced from his herd of Jersey-cross cows on his farm in west wicklow to make his own traditional cheddar cheese called Coolattin. \ Claire Nash

Tom's traditional cheddar cheese, Coolattin. \ Claire Nash

A roundup of some of the rest of the pictures from around the country

Whitehead yearling heifers in the winter sun at Mountoliver, Co Laois. \ Philip Doyle

Whitehead yearling heifers in the winter sun at Mountoliver, Co Laois/ Philip Doyle

Pat Healy ploughing in a cover crop for organic beet on the farm of Brendan Gildea, Dunmore, Co Galway.

Cattle at a feeder on a wet, windy morning in Ballyhiernan, Fanad, Co Donegal. \ Clive Wasson

Edwin Murphy and David Anderson from Derry ploughing with Clydesdales outside Newtowncunningham where horse ploughing enthusiasts gathered last week to sharpen there skills. \ Clive Wasson

The first sheep sale of 2020 started in a brisk trade in Tullow Mart on Tuesday with prices increasing by €5 to €6 per head on pre-Christmas levels and rising to a top of €125. \ Patrick Browne

Read more

This week in photos: Christmas tractors and belles

This week in photos: Cullinan brings home the bacon

This week in photos: Christmas turkeys and marts

This week in photos: 3,000 bulls exported to Libya and Limousin sale at Tuam

This week in photos: Christmas trees and chaos in Dublin