Trading for the past 13 years, McCloskey Bros is a leading agricultural contracting firm based in Loughgiel, Co. Antrim. Specialising in umbilical slurry spreading, fertiliser spreading, slurry spreading, sowing, baling, drawing / stacking round bales, hedge cutting and dump trailer work, it offers an extensive farming contracting service to a growing customer-base.
McCloskey Bros is run by brothers Karl and Brian McCloskey who learned everything they know and inherited their passion for farm machinery from their late father John, who was in the business before them. Committed to providing a top-class service and complete customer satisfaction, the brothers have a wide range of machinery to carry out your work quickly and efficiently, providing you with value-for-money and an alternative to investing in your own expensive equipment.
The success of McCloskey Bros is down to the knowledge, skill and expertise of its staff, as well as the quality of its equipment. The family-run concern delivers the value and quality farmers expect from their agricultural contracting partner.
Karl and Brian run a fleet of 10 tractors – seven New Holland, two Deutz Fahr and one Case International. The New Holland models are TS115 (x2), TN155 power command, TM140 range command, TM130 range command, TM125 range command and TL100A. The fleet is completed by two Deutz Fahr 150 Agrotrons and a Case International 674, which is used mostly around the farmyard.
Other plant / equipment operated by the McCloskeys include Doda (SlurryKat) and Agquip umbilical systems, a highflow Red Rock slurry pump, a pair of 3,000-gallon Agrimac slurry tankers with steering axles, two 2,000-gallon Abbey slurry tankers, two Lely round balers, two Vicon mowers, one front-mounted Pottinger mower, a Tanco 1400 bale wrapper, a Fleming bale trailer, two nine-tonne McCauley silage trailers, a JF 1050 harvester, a 20-foot Pottinger silage rake and a McConnel PA5155 headcutter with multi-cut head. The Co. Antrim-based agri-contractor is also due to take delivery of two new 12-tonne Fleming silage trailers ahead of the upcoming silage season.
All machines are upgraded on a regular basis to avoid breakdowns and downtime. Servicing and maintenance is carried out in-house, while machines in need of repair are sent to nearby farm dealerships. The majority of the plant was purchased from Agquip Agricultural Engineering Ltd in Ballymoney and SlurryKat in Waringstown, Co. Armagh.
Agquip was formed in 2010 by James O’Kane to provide design and build services to the agricultural sector in Ireland, the UK and Europe. The company has designed an innovative slurry application system which dispenses farmyard slurry directly onto grassland without leaving a residue on surrounding leaves or plants. The slurry machine offers farmers a more affordable and efficient alternative to traditional slurry spreading and has been endorsed by the McCloskeys.
SlurryKat is another Northern Ireland-based company which manufactures the most technologically advanced range of slurry equipment available on the market today. It is a leading manufacturer of slurry tankers, umbilical systems and farm trailers which are exported to 18 countries worldwide. SlurryKat prides itself in being able to produce exceptional slurry handling equipment and accessories that are engineered with design and quality at the forefront of its mind.
Karl says the umbilical application system has many advantages over traditional tanker-based application methods, the main ones being it empties slurry tanks and lagoons much faster, reduces / eliminates soil compaction and reduces fuel consumption as the contractor is not constantly travelling from the yard to the field.
“Umbilical slurry spreading is the way forward, especially in this country where we get so much rain. It’s easier on the ground and is a much quicker way to put out slurry. We have 2,500 metres of umbilical pipes in total, so no job is too big or too small,” he explains.
McCloskey Bros has a large and loyal client-base in an area encompassing Loughgiel, Armoy, Carey, Ballymoney, Dunloy and Ballycastle. Most of their customers are dairy, beef and sheep farmers.al slurry handlign ay. It is a leading manufacturer of slurry tankers.
The brothers are busy all year round with their agricultural contracting business. In the early part of the year, the focus is on slurry and fertiliser spreading. The silage and baling season gets underway in May and runs until September. This is a particularly hectic time for the McCloskeys who will work around the clock to keep their clients happy. It’s followed in the autumn by hedge cutting and more slurry spreading.
“There is never a dull moment here. When we’re not at the contracting, we’re farming. We rent about 80 acres which we stock with 180 sheep and 60 cattle,” Karl continues.
The affable agri contractor says in conclusion: “We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our customers for their support over the last 13 years. We look forward to receiving the same great support for many years to come.”
For all your agriculture contracting needs in the Glens of Antrim, be sure to give McCloskey Bros a call.
McCloskey Bros Agricultural Contractors
73 Corkey Road,
Loughgiel,
Co. Antrim BT449JJ.
Telephone: +44 7788680235
Taken from Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 4 No 4, April/May 2016
