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All pedigree Herefords qualify for the higher grazing supplement payment
Native Breeds at risk Grazing Supplement up to £70 per ha
This supplement encourages the use of appropriate Native Breeds of livestock for grazing, to help achieve the aims of relevant options (for all options please see defra website link below).
Evidence suggests that some native livestock breeds have attributes that are particularly well-suited to harsh climatic conditions, to difficult terrain, to grazing semi-natural vegetation and to achieving conservation objectives. This supplement is also designed to contribute towards the genetic conservation of native breeds at risk.
You can use this supplement with a range of options, please refer to Section 3.4 for details.
The number and breed of livestock, and the way in which they are managed, must be suitable for meeting the objectives of the option(s) to which the supplement is added. Only pedigree-registered animals, and/or their genetically traceable, purebred offspring, are eligible because of the need for independent verification by the relevant recognised-breed society.
You are advised to seek the view of your Natural England adviser about which native breeds may be considered suitable for grazing your land early in the application process. HR2 can also be located on the same parcel as HR1 – providing their combined payment rate does not exceed the maximum rate for HR2.
For more information on the grazing supplement payment please click the following link:
Natural England HLS
To download section 3 of the handbook please open the following pdf: 
Load Me
Romany Herd to the fore at Carlisle Sale
Kelso father and son breeders, Ron and Robert Wilson of the Romany herd secured the leading price of 2,500gns at the early spring show and sale on behalf the Hereford Cattle Society.
Their 17 month old bull entry, Romany 1 Frontier A84, is a son of Baybridge 1 Atlas and bred from an outstanding cow in the herd Romany 1 Dawn, who has had a son exported to Germany. Frontier, being sold left, joins the Bottle Hill herd of Gordon Robson, Stockton on Tees.
Following at 2,000gns was one of two bull entries shown by Arbroath breeders JM Cant & Ptrs. Their home bred entry, Panmure 1 Frosty is sired by Solpoll 1 Brigadier and out of a Versache bred daughter Panmure 1 Plum who is one of the best breeding female lines in the herd. Frosty is full brother to the entry which sold for the top price last year at this sale and was knocked down to D & J Coulson Livestock to join their Ancholme herd based at Market Rasen, Lincs.
Picture right is Male Champion Baldinnie 1 Kingston from John & Margaret Cameron.
The next leading price tag came from the Romany herd of Messrs Wilson. Selling for 1,900gns was Romany 1 Federation A51, a son of Romany 1 Asteroid and out of Romany 1 Mink, selling carrying a milk figure which places him in the top 5% of the breed. He sold to North Yorkshire enthusiasts K Lister & Sons of Skipton.
Local breeders Messrs Hewson of Wigton sold their sole entry of the sale for 1,800gns. Amberfield 1 Executor sired by Hillrow 1 Wrestler and bred from the homebred cow Amberfield 1 Brunette. He was secured by I Emmerson of Consett.
In the female classes the leading price achieved was 1,550gns for the last entry to the sale ring. Baldinnie 1 Kay 21st, a maiden heifer consigned by Fife based breeders John H Cameron & Sons. This stylish heifer carries a wealth of breeding in her pedigree and is sired by the 2005 Royal Highland Show Supreme Champion Baldinnie 1 Oxford and on her mothers side her grand-dam, Baldinnie 1 Kay 14th achieved the Breed Female of the Year award in 1999. She sold to PW Lucas of Rochdale, Lancs.
Pictured left Romany 1 Dawn A51 F21 the Champion Female from J.R.B Wilson & Sons
Two young heifers from Messrs Wilson of the Romany herd both sold for 1450gns. Both entries were full sisters, by Romany 1 Asteroid and out of the herds noted Dawn family. In the pre-sale judging they collected the Female and Reserve Female Championships tickets. They stay together and were both purchased by D & J Coulson Livestock Ltd of Market Rasen.
For an extended video of the Show please click the following link: Carlisle Show February 2010
Averages – 6 bulls £1,986.25, 5 females £1,312.50.
Danish Breeders on alert as "Dynamite" is Exported!
Four hundred straws of semen from the 2008 Northern Ireland Hereford Bull of the Year has been sold to the Danish Hereford Association to be used in pedigree herds throughout Denmark and Norway.
The semen is from the poll bull Solpoll 1 Dynamite bred by John and William McMordie from Ballygowan, Co. Down, Northern Ireland.
“Dynamite”, pictured above left, is the current stock bull in the Solpoll herd and is well known as a result of his successful show career. He was shown as a calf in 2007 winning the Calf Championship at the National Show, Bull Calf Champion at the Calf show and unbeaten in his class throughout that year. That the Autumn of 2007 he was viewed by Danish breeders who were on a visit to Northern Ireland to look for new Hereford genetics. An interest in “Dynamite” was expressed after viewing his mother who is one of the leading cows in the Solpoll herd and analysing his pedigree and performance figures. Dynamite’s sire is Udel 1 Vindicator who was also a former Bull of the Year in 2006 and a two-time winner of the N.I. Sire of the Year award. “Dynamite” also has very high performance figures being in the top 5% of the breed for Terminal Sire Index and Self Replacing Index. Following further show success in 2008 and in 2009, where he was Royal Ulster Champion and Inter-breed Champion at Saintfield Show, an order for the semen was confirmed. 
Dynamite’s first son, Solpoll 1 Flame, pictured right, has followed in his fathers footsteps winning the Calf Championship at the National Show in 2009. At the NIHBA Premier Show & Sale at Dungannon in January he was Champion and sold for the top price of 3000gns despite being the youngest bull by three months.
Youth carries the day at Hereford Premier Show and Sale in Northern Ireland
The youngest bull entered at the 2010 Northern Ireland Hereford Breeders’ Association Premier Show and Sale carried the day in both rings at last Saturday’s event, which was held in Dungannon Farmers’s Mart.
Judge Cyril Millar, from Coleraine, described the Supreme Champion – 13 month old Solpoll 1 Flame (pictured above left) – as an excellent example of the Hereford Breed.
Flame, a heifer’s calf by the renowned sire Solpoll 1 Dynamite, was bred by J and W McMordie from Saintfield in Co Down, a bull with excellent EBV’s for carcass quality, qualifying him as a Superior Carcass sire sold for the top price of 3,000 guineas.
The day’s next highest price was 2,500 guineas paid for the second bull through the ring, 22 months old Craigy Eric sired by Kilmessan Ted from Dessie Martins Lisola Herd at Saintfield.
Other Leading Prices Included:
The Reserve Champion Solpoll 1 Eager 2,000 gns. from J. & W. McMordie (pictured right)
Solitude 1 Exciting 2,000 gns. from Andrew McMordie, Co. Down.
Lisrace Liberator V 2,200 gns from D.R. Wilson, Co. Fermanagh.
Lisrace Landlord XV1 1,800 gns from D.R. Wilson, Co. Fermanagh.
Carneyhill 1 Eeyore 1,800 gns from J. & K. Taggart, Co. Down.
Graceland 1 Enzo, Edgar and Eldorado 1,800 gns. each from R.J. Irvine, Co. Armagh.
The virtual clearance of bulls on offer resulted in an average of £2,000.00
Demand for Hereford branded beef rockets!
One of Northern Ireland’s leading hotels has confirmed that its patrons just can’t get enough of locally produced Hereford beef. “We put Hereford branded steaks on to our restaurant menu some months ago and the response from our clientele with regard to the eating experience they have enjoyed has been extremely positive,” explained Tony O’Neill, Head Chef in Belfast’s Merchant Hotel.
Tony is pictured above with from L to R Peter Hannan and Robin Irvine.
“The beef we are getting is well matured, extremely uniform in quality and, in my opinion, represents the consumate eating experience. The meat is tender, succulent and has a natural taste, which is a unique characteristic of high quality beef.”
Tony attributes these qualities to the natural marbling of Hereford beef.
“As a result of this, the intramuscular fat dissolves in the cooking process, thereby releasing all the natural flavours within the meat.”
The man responsible for introducing Hereford beef to Tony O Neill was well known Moira-based meat merchant Peter Hannan.
“I come from a beef farming background hand have known for quite some time about the tremendous quality of Hereford Beef,” Peter explained.
“So when I became aware of the fact that a guaranteed and consistent supply could be secured, courtesy of the current arrangements between the Foyle Meat Group and the Hereford Association, I jumped at the chance of getting my hands on some of it.
“That was a number of months ago. I have since started supplying a number of customers with Hereford Branded steaks and everyone of them, without exception, has come back asking for more.”
He continued: “In my opinion there is an almost insatiable demand for the quality of beef produced by Hereford Cattle. I, certainly, want to grow the business: the bottleneck is the shortage of certified supply at the present time.
“I am fully aware that local beef farmers are under significant financial pressure at the present time. Given this background, I would advise them to consider carefully the option of producing Hereford branded beef.
The Certified Hereford Beef Scheme is offering an attractive bonus for all suitable grades of certified cattle at the present time. What’s more, the natural qualities of Hereford stock in terms of good temperament and easy finishing make for simpler management on farm.”
Peter Hannan concluded:
“The key to the reliability and consistency of the product is the sourcing of our supply.
“All our beef comes from local farms and is certified by the Hereford Cattle Society. We know that the animals are sired by Pedigree registered Hereford bulls and reared to exacting standards of animal health and welfare”.
And don’t let anyone say that Peter Hannan is not prepared to back up his own judgement with hard cash. He bid £1,900 to secure the Hereford Champion at the recent Allam’s Christmas Show and Sale.