Brian and Blathnáid Keane farm 96ha (240ac) alongside Brian’s father, John, his brother, Eoin, and his young son, Sean.

Located in Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, the farm is a mixed enterprise comprising sheep, cattle, and tillage.

In addition, approximately 5ha are dedicated to commercial forestry, while a further 10ha consist of disused quarries, groves, rivers, streams, and laneways.

Join us on Wednesday, July 15 at 7:00p.m for a BETTER Sheep Farm Walk on Brian's lowland sheep farm at Davidstown, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, Y21 XOY2.

The Keane farm

Brian commenced farming organically on January 1, 2026.

The farming operates with a 190 mid-season lambing ewe flock, consisting of Belclare, Charollais, Suffolk and Texel genetics selling lambs for slaughter.

In addition, 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); a barley, peas and oats mix; and a 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 at the farm walk 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.