Tucked away in the rolling farmland of Moyvane, near the Kerry, Limerick border, the Stack family farm is a picture of what Irish family farming does best, blending tradition, innovation, and a shared love for the land.
This is a truly family-run enterprise, and a rare example of two generations working side-by-side with seamless coordination and mutual respect. Pat still does the morning milking and oversees much of the machinery and animal health work, while Owen, who works full time off-farm in Aughinish Alumina, takes the evening shift. Anne is at the heart of the operation, looking after the calves and managing the flow of work through the busy spring period.
Owen, having studied in Clonakilty Agricultural College, gained international experience on farms in Australia, where he met Aoife, now his wife. Aoife works as a nurse in a local school for children with disabilities and is happily settled into Moyvane life. With Owen’s return to the home place, the Stacks found not just more hands, but a fresh perspective and renewed energy to modernise and future-proof the business.
The results speak for themselves. Last year, their herd averaged 483kg milk solids per cow from 5,777 litres, with SCC at a remarkably low 61,000 and TBC consistently below 7,000. Late-lactation quality is exceptional — butterfat and protein peaked at 5.44% and 4.17% respectively in November. Cows are milk recorded six times a year, and the Stacks apply strict criteria when it comes to selective dry cow therapy: only cows with SCC below 50,000, no history of mastitis, under fourth lactation and not leaking at dry-off are eligible for sealant-only protocols.
Animal health is a strong focus here, daily footbathing, mineral supplementation at calving, a comprehensive vaccination plan, and early treatment of lameness all contribute to a calm, productive herd. The milking parlour, upgraded in 2012, is scrupulously maintained, with full hot and cold wash routines and chlorine-free detergents used throughout.
What’s perhaps most impressive is the long-standing environmental stewardship. The River Galey, a tributary of the Feale, runs alongside the farm and the Stacks have been protecting it since the time of REPS. Today, they’re participants in the European Innovation Partnership (EIP) programme and are applying for further works such as bunded drains, riparian buffer strips, and critical source area protection. New fencing set five metres back from the watercourse, sloped roadways directing runoff into fields, and extensive use of LESS slurry spreading all help to safeguard water quality.
On the production side, the herd is 100% genomically tested, with a current EBI of €207 and replacement stock coming in at an impressive €294. All AI bulls are selected for solids, fertility, ease of calving, and health traits. Half the calves born are beef-sired with an Aubrac bull used for his ease of calving and the thriving quality of his progeny.
With 75% of their grazing platform incorporating clover, reseeding ongoing, and plans to install solar panels and expand capacity following a recent land purchase, the Stacks are building a sustainable and resilient future.
But what truly sets this farm apart is the harmony between people, place, and purpose. Pat’s passion for breeding and training greyhounds remains strong, and his dogs are frequent contenders under the lights at Tralee, Owen plays football with the local GAA club, and Anne is active in community volunteering. They cover for each other when needed, take family holidays, and enjoy the kind of work–life balance that many farmers dream of.
“It’s a simple system,” says Owen. “But it works because we all believe in it — and we enjoy working together.” In Moyvane, that’s the secret to success.
