• 2012-02-01T20:00:00Z on UTV
  • 25m
  • 25m (1 episode)
  • Ireland
  • Documentary, Reality
Rare Breed provides an in-depth look into the successes and struggles of farming life in Ireland, throughout a calendar year. A total of 18 farming families from across the country are taking part in the series, which gives a unique insight into all aspects of farming life and the people who work our land – from beef, dairy, sheep, pig and poultry farms, to tomato and organic vegetable producers.

12 episodes

Series Premiere

2012-02-01T20:00:00Z

1x01 January

Series Premiere

1x01 January

  • 2012-02-01T20:00:00Z25m

Wallace Gregg gets to work with the twice-daily milking in Co Antrim, while David Wilson prepares his prize Hereford bulls for the annual sales in Co Fermanagh. In Co Down, the largest deer herd in the UK and Ireland is being fed, and the cold weather means the arable farmers cannot get into the fields.

1x02 February

  • no air date25m

David Wilson has a tricky task on his hands when he tries to get a ewe to adopt a lamb. The slurry teams take time out from their busy schedules to attend a ploughing match, Allan Chambers discusses his new venture - malt barley - and TB tests take place in Ballymena.

1x03 March

  • no air date25m

Wallace Gregg introduces new bloodlines to his herd, Allan Chambers begins ploughing and sowing as the weather brightens up, and potatoes are planted in Comber. Pregnant cattle are scanned at an organic farm in Strangford, and John Killen turns his herd out to grass.

1x04 April

  • no air date25m

Tyrone pig farmer Mark Adams has his hands full with new arrivals, and David Wilson shears his sheep early due to the unseasonably warm weather. Dale Orr worries about the threat of foxes taking his newborn lambs, Miceal McCoy keeps an eye on his pregnant cattle, and the Killens begin the painstaking preparations for the upcoming Balmoral Show.

1x05 May

  • no air date25m

The annual Balmoral Show takes place, and tension is high following weeks of preparation, with farmers knowing good results can boost their reputation and raise the value of bloodlines. The Wilsons from Fermanagh show their Hereford cattle, and the Chestnutts bring their Texel sheep.

1x06 June

  • no air date25m

Allan Chambers sprays his barley in Co Down, as the good weather begins to attract pests, while Cloughmills dairy farmer Wallace Gregg invests in a new cattle shed. The moment of truth arrives for the Killens' near Crossgar when the butcher pays a visit.

1x07 July

  • no air date25m

Ballymena farmer Seamus Kane prepares for the arrival of 30,000 chicks, and Christmas comes early for Olive and Donald Elliot as they take delivery of highly prized bronze turkeys. David Wilson tackles broken machinery in Fermanagh, while Victor Chestnutt picks the best cuts of his silage.

1x08 August

  • no air date25m

Fermanagh's David Wilson visits the renowned Hereford Champion Show, becoming the first local breeder to compete at that level. Victor Chestnutt brings his sheep to the annual Texel Sales, while in Ballymena, Seamus Kane's chickens are almost ready for the supermarket shelves.

1x09 September

  • no air date25m

Wallace Gregg worries when the size of his maize harvest is much less than he was expecting. Near Comber, Ivan McKee picks parsnips, which must be on the supermarket shelves within 24 hours, but heavy rain brings costly delays. The mating season for deer begins near Downpatrick.

1x10 October

  • no air date25m

The wet and cold weather causes problems on many farms. Co Tyrone contractor Alwyn Young battles through mud to harvest maize, while in Co Down, Allan Chambers struggles to prepare for next year's crops. Near Bushmills, Victor Chestnutt gets his animals ready to move indoors for the winter.

1x11 November

  • no air date25m

The continuing bad weather proves costly for arable farmer Allan Chambers, with his entire crop of linseed being wiped out. Wallace Gregg also tries to salvage his maize harvest, working late into the night to save what he can. At the Wilsons' farm in Fermanagh, the sheep are scanned to see how many lambs there will be in January.

1x12 December

  • no air date25m

The Wilsons in Fermanagh weigh and groom their bulls in preparation for the January sales. Wallace Gregg worries about a proposed new road, and the possibility that it could cut his farm in Co Antrim in half and severely damage the business. Customers start queuing up to collect their Christmas turkeys from the Elliotts' farm near Portaferry, Co Down.

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