Irish Shorthorn Society Ltd.

Recently a delegation from the Society visited the Teagasc Beef Research Centre in Grange, Co. Meath. The group were shown the Derrypatrick Herd and all the facilities. The core message from the visit was how much difficulties the National Beef herd is facing after many years of farmers using terminal sires with a high degree of muscling. This continued emphasis on the muscling trait has resulted in very poor fertility and milk, and difficult calvings in the suckler dams leading to expensive reliance on meal feeding and poor utilisation and conversion of our cheapest resource - grass. The Beef Shorthorn cow is very well placed to counteract this problem, the Beef Shorthorn dam has excellent figures for fertility, milk and survivability with very good calving ability and also calving interval and an excellent temperament for safety and ease of management. We would remind breeders during the current breeding season to be mindful of the milk and fertility figures in the bulls which you select for breeding be they A.I. or Stock Bulls. Eurostar figures for all bulls either A.I.or Stock Bulls can be checked out on the ICBF website using the bull search facility. To check out an A.I. bull you can click the first option and you can check out your stock bull by clicking on the second option and enter either his tag number or his pedigree name. As a breed we have what other suckler farmers are trying to achieve so it is paramount that we preserve this within our breed.There is an opening here also for using Beef Shorthorn bulls for crossing breeding on continentals to produce replacement stock for suckler farmers. The Beef Shorthorn cow when crossed on continentals transmits a high proportion of her superior maternal ability into her progeny making them also ideal replacement stock. Teagasc Grange will have two open days during 2012, one in June and the second in September. If you would like to go to see the set up and systems just keep an eye on our website and the farming press for date nearer the event.

On Saturday April 14th we saw a tremendous trade for the small number of Beef Shorthorns on offer. There were three bulls on offer the Champion Bull Lot 122 Ballygart Dartangan, a Dice (CZB) son out of a Dovea Sir James cow remained unsold at 2000 euro. Dartangan was bred by Liam Moreton, Ballygart, Leitrim P.O.,Carrrick on Shannon. The Reserve Champion Bull Lot. 123 Jackie Joker, a Sliabhbhui Prince 2nd (SBU) son out of a Bushypark Enda 4th cow made the top Shorthorn price on the day of 2800 euro. Joker was bred by John & James Heneghan, Rathlena, Ballinlough, Co. Roscommon. The third bull Lot 125 Drumrane Felix was a young April 2011 born son of Dice out of a Frankford Roseman Prince cow sold for 1200 euro. Felix was bred by Jim Bohan, Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim.

On the female side the Champion Heifer Lot 127 Driney Beauty, a Dice daughter out of a Rynn Ned cow was sold for 2750 euro. Beauty was bred by Patrick Regan, Driney, Loughglynn, Co. Leitrim. The Reserve Champion Heifer Lot 129 Rockville Kate 11th, a Bushypark Enda 4th daughter out of a Creaga Lochalsh cow was sold for 2100 euro. Kate was bred by Anthony Dockery, Elphin, Co. Roscommon. The remaining five heifers were also a very good trade. Joseph O'Doherty, Ardtrasna, Ballinfull, Co. Sligo had three lots. Lot 128 Ardtrasna Lucy 2nd, an Aughmagree Major daughter out of a Kilfrush Vantage 7th (VTG) cow was sold for 1750 euro, lot 131 Ardtrasna Rose 2nd, a Stonmour Thundercloud (SZD) daughter out of a Ardtrasna Major cow was sold for 1700 euro, and lot 132 Ardtrasna Maureen 2nd, also from Aughmagree Major and a Kilfrush Vantage 7th cow made 2050 euro. Jim Bohan had one heifer for sale Lot 130 Drumrane Hazel, a daughter of Hillview Tim 2nd out of a Drumrane Robert cow. Hazel was sold for 1650 euro. The final Shorthorn of the day Lot 133 Driney Rebecca 2nd was another Dice daughter out of a Ballingarrane Belgold cow. Rebecca was a June 2011 born heifer, she sold for 1700 euro. The Shorthorn Judge on the day was Jim Foley, Rathanna, Sligo.