From Uppermill to Upperchurch !

by Yvonne Conway

Well known Tipperary breeder John O'Malley of the Quinflo herd recently purchased an Uppermill Beef shorthorn bull from James Porter, Lilburn Belfast. James recently acquired the entire Uppermill herd from Stuart and Joy Durno of Aberdeen Scotland.  James is already the well known Aberdeen Angus breeder of the Old Glenort herd.

For over a century Uppermill has been identified with the breeding of Beef Shorthorn cattle in Scotland. The present herd was started in 1882 by James Durno, great grandfather of Stuart's. Cattle have been regularly exhibited over the years at Perth Bull sales and at the Highland and Royal shows where the herd has won many prizes including female and supreme champions on many occasions. Cattle bred in this herd are kindly easy feeders, unique for their healthy hardy constitutions with good mothering instincts. Many have been exported to Canada, USA, New Zealand, Argentina, South Africa, Australia and now Ireland!

John O'Malley purchased an 18 month old impressive roan bull-Uppermill Landfall -a powerful bull for his age weighing in at 830 kg, son of Uppermill Bartle. Michael Conway of the Clonina Herd also bought an Uppermill bull -Uppermill Saffrons on of Chapel ton Touchstone ho was the Supreme Champion at Perth in2004. At the October Sales at Perth
Scotland Shane and Frances Brigdale purchased an 18 month old Beef Shorthorn Bull -Blelack Destiny a Canadian embryo out of Buffalo Lake Dustbuster and a yearling heifer from the Bon Accord herd near Aberdeen.

It is important to note that all these animals carry with them Ebbs i.e. estimated beef values by Breedplan and it will be important goingforward that progenies of the animals are recorded similarly in order to evaluate their potential.

Because the ban has been lifted it is now possible to import stock from the UK without too much complications and its good to see breeders wasting no time in getting in new bloodlines that I'm sure will help with the development of the breed.