Irish Country Report 2023 Breed Improvement

Breed Improvement remains at the core of the Irish Hereford Society and we have been busy looking for new genetics and bloodlines abroad. As part of our Breed Improvement Scheme – we have also purchased straws of Australian sires; Kanimbla Power Quest and The Ranch Remington and we are excited to see the progeny from both.

There were also two other sires recently imported from Australia privately by Irish breeders; Yarram Unique P160 and Ke Warra Maxwell R156. Progeny from both sires have been hitting the ground since Spring 2023 and are very impressive already. We look forward to seeing them grow.

In Ireland, we have a star evaluation system for all Pedigree cattle that is governed by ICBF. This system is somewhat along the same lines as BreedPlan. The evaluation is determined by several indices involving certain traits including fertility, milk, carcase traits as in weight and conformation and other important traits. The evaluation has recently incorporated a carbon index which includes age of slaughter and has subsequently improved the Herefords evaluation figures. This is a big boost for the Herefords in Ireland within the market place and should open doors for importing new bloodlines from Australia also.

We wish all our fellow breeders in Australia the very best of luck for the New Year ahead!

• Louise Callan, IHBS General Manager.

Spring Hereford bull sales 2023

Hereford breeders in Ireland had a Spring like no other in terms of selling bulls. The sales started extra early with customers seeking out bulls in January compared to a later start of March in other years. The shortage of bulls following a clear out in the Autumn 2022 left many dairy farmers fearing they would have to go without if they didn’t shop early.

The society sales kicked off with the Premier sale in GVM Tullamore on Saturday 25th March. The sale was a smasher with one polled Hereford bull in hot demand. Drumgoonpoll 1 Sydney, bred by Aidan McCabe, Cavan, was the show stopper of the day when two breeders fought it out to purchase this November 2021 born bull. As with every sale though there can only be one buyer & Wade McCrabbe of Ardstewart Herefords stuck in until the end and purchased the Fabb 1 Northern Star son. There was elation around the ring as the auctioneer dropped the hammer at €11,600. Sydney is bred from Corlismorepoll 1 Sydney 981, a Dendor 1 Kohinoor dam.

The sale was a great success all round with the average price resting at over €4,000 and 70% clearance rate.  Overall Hereford Bull sales last Spring were on a high with 76% of bulls presented at sales sold to an excellent average price of €3,400.

 

National Hereford Show 2023!

The National Hereford Show 2023 was held on Sunday 13th August as always at the Tullamore Show! The show was a great success with over 90 Hereford cattle exhibited on the day and a continuous large crowd of spectators.

It was a pleasure to welcome Ms. Carolyn Fletcher from Barwise 1 polled Herefords, Cumbria, England. With over 90 cattle showing on the day and some very large classes – judging the Herefords was not that simple but Carolyn carried out the task efficiently and concisely. Each exhibitor was treated very fairly on the day and Carolyn’s consistent judging rang through each class. The exhibitors and the spectators were impressed by Carolyn’s choices which is not an easy win at the best of times.

Supreme National Hereford Champion: Niall Maguire, Country Crest, Lusk, Dublin, Country Crest Rob – Ear Tag No.: 372226363610117, DOB: 28/09/2022, Sire: Lisgoaghpoll 1 Oscar, Dam: Ballyaville Ibby

Genetic Gems 2023

The third annual Genetic Gems Sale was also held on Saturday 18th November in GVM Tullamore.

Another great sale hosted by the Gems team saw 70% of females sold, top price of €5,100 and an average sale price of €4,029. Alongside the Heifer sale was the FH Herefords dispersal sale which was also a resounding success with all females sold on to a top price of €5,600 and an average sale price of €4,433! FH Herefords are the importers of Yarram Unique P160 straws.

Irish Hereford Prime Beef Sustainability Program

As the largest Hereford producer group in Europe, Irish Hereford Prime aims to position itself to better supply exactly what the market needs. The consumer now demands more sustainable environmentally friendly beef, which ultimately drives what the Irish beef producer supplies at farm level.

The Irish Hereford Prime beef producer group have made a substantial investment in a new beef genetics sustainability program. The first steps on the road to an enhanced sustainability policy for the Irish Hereford Prime beef brand has seen the group partner with Dovea Genetics and the Irish Hereford Breed Society, to identify and promote bulls capable of further improving the quality and substantiality credentials of its premium beef brand.

The breeding policy of the program makes easy calving, short gestation Hereford bulls available to meet the huge demand at farm level, while also ensuring high terminal carcass performance to deliver a Hereford beef animal that continues to achieve targeted improvements. The producer group recognises that an increase in the rate of genetic gain is linked to profitability, sustainability, and climate efficiency. A reduction in the age at slaughter while maintaining animal daily live weight gain will ensure lower overall methane emissions per kilogram of beef produced, thereby strengthening the sustainability pillar that the Irish Hereford Prime brand is built upon. Currently there are five bulls in the program – each of which pack an impressive set of credentials. The first calves from the initial three bulls arrived on the ground in Spring 2023 and their progeny look very promising with ease of calving and short gestation remaining key.

The group are looking forward to seeing the rewards from their long-term investment in identifying suitable Hereford genetics being seen by the consumer right the way back to their farmer members who produce their beef.