Rare Breed: A Farming Year

The series returns to chart the lives of farming families throughout 2016, beginning in January as Antrim dairy farmer George Bingham and his family run their TB test. Meanwhile in Clare, near Ennis, former schoolteacher Siobhan Ni Ghairbhith is preparing her goats for kidding.

Following the working lives of farming families over the course of a year. It is now February, and as assorted farmers prepare for new arrivals, one family sends bulls to Scotland

Near Templepatrick in Antrim, George Bingham is calving a cow; every month, he has around 50 new arrivals; he's getting a helping hand from daughters Sophia and Ellie.

The working lives of farming families over the course of a year, offering an insight into one of Northern Ireland's largest and oldest industries, and continuing with April

May means time for Balmoral Show, so farmers from across Ireland take a break to visit. Tipperary's Edwin Draper has some tough decisions ahead as he judges the Rouge de l'Ouest sheep, while for the Robsons it proves to be a family affair, with Michael stewarding the cattle classes and his father Billy acting as show president

Young American farmers visit George Bingham's dairy farm near Templepatrick in Antrim, and Galway's Joe Joyce is also hosting US tourists at his farm on the Wild Atlantic Way

Near Fivemiletown in Tyrone, Chris Johnston has his hands full preparing a young bull to leave the yard. In Dublin, Margaret and Des Jeffares are hoping for success as their prize two-year-old hunter - Ballykelly Flashdance competes against the country's top animals. Near Fethard in Tipperary, Noel Delany is frustrated by the delay to the year's harvest

The Robson brothers breed prize Simmental bulls at their farm near Ballyclare in Antrim, and this month they find out if some embryo work has been successful. Meanwhile, near Fethard in Tipperary, Noel Delany is flat out harvesting. Cameras also follow Cavan cattle farmer Sebana Moynagh in Dublin. She's one of five farmers who give tours at the zoo's city farm.

Autumn has arrived, and Chris Johnston from Fivemiletown, County Tyrone is scanning his cousin's 300-strong goat herd to see which animals are pregnant. Meanwhile, Sebana Moynagh has her hands full with calving near Mountnugent in County Cavan

As the days get shorter, Tyrone farmer Chris Johnston finds time to take a break from his own cattle to judge calves in Enniskillen, while the O'Malley family attend the annual Irish Food Awards. Meanwhile, in County Cavan, Sebana Moynagh's herd is inspected by the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation

November arrives and Edwin Draper readies his flock of pedigree sheep for winter in Ballinlough, while Tynan Roulston has to bring his cattle in from the hills near Bready. Tyrone farmer Chris Johnston is back out on the road scanning cattle to make sure they are in prime condition ahead of breeding, while on Ballykelly Farm in Wexford, the blacksmith is working with Margaret Jeffares' horses.

It's December, and as 2016 draws to a close, the farmers get ready for a busy Christmas. Cameras follow George Bingham in County Antrim as he looks for cows ready for breeding, while in Danville, County Kilkenny, Jim Mulhall teaches some valuable farming skills to his children