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13th European Hereford Conference proves a great success!

Following a welcome reception on Wednesday 23rd June, the first item on the Conference Tour agenda was a visit to the Royal Highland Show. Hereford classes were judged by Jens Michael Jensen from Denmark. Jen's is no stranger to UK Hereford breeders having previously judged the National Poll Show and the last ever Royal Show in 2009. Jens chose Romany 1 Captain as his Supreme Hereford Champion (see Royal Highland Show article below for more details).

 Left is Mr Richard Lochhead Member of the Scottish Parliament addressing the European delegates at the Highland dinner in the Marriott Hotel, Edinburgh. Guests were entertained by Highland dancers and Fiona Sloan singing a melody of traditional Scottish songs and poems.

After an early breakfast delegates were travelling south through the Scottish Borders to the home of the Romany herd, run by father and son Ronald & Robert Wilson.  Following an excellent viewing of the cattle and warm hospitality, everyone had the chance of guessing the weight of stock bull Baybridge 1 Atlas, bred by South Western breeder Mr Les Gould. One member of the delegation guessed the weight to the nearest kg - who was it? None other than Les Gould. Les stated in was "just a co-incidence!"

Next was a trip over the border into England and a visit to John & Tom Kemp's farm, to see the well known successful Auckvale herd. Again the hospitality was truly amazing with as many photographs taken of the wonderful cakes and edible delights than of the outstanding cattle.


Following a long drive down from Bishop Auckland and good night's sleep, guests awoke to the 13th European Hereford Conference. Delegates had the chance to hear Hereford breed reports from across Europe, keynote speaker Marcia Dutra de Barcellos from Brazil and four panel speakers discussing the topic "Building the Hereford Brand". Again please see below in latest news for further details.

The Shropshire County Show was a great spectacle for all visits whether they were from overseas or from the UK. Over 100 Herefords were on show and as indicated by the picture left, some of the classes were a challenge for Judge Steve Edwards due to their size and quality. Overall winner was Leos Pride 1 Ellis owned and bred by D&B Ellis, Wigan, Lancashire. It was very appropriate that Mrs Betty Ellis's young bull took the Supreme Championship with her daughter Jane performing as lead singer in the acclaimed band ABBA Forever, performing at the Gala dinner the following evening. The following day a strong Hereford team took the Inter-breed Team of Five Championship. There was further success when the greatly admired Binnegar Winston from Andrew Hughes & Anita Gilson, came top in the Inter-breed performance recorded classes.

On yet another glorious day, showing English countryside at it's best, the European party proceeded into rural Herefordshire to visit the Haven herd, home to Edward and Carol Lewis & family. Visitors were given an extensive tour of a herd first founded in 1822. Following more great hospitality including local cider provided by Weston's cider, delegates had the chance to view a photographic display by the Herefordshire Photography Festival and to purchase Hereford breed merchandise.

The coaches departed the Haven and made there way through Herefordshire to Temple Court home to Gerald and Rosemary Blandford to view the large Bosa herd. The delegates including speakers Remi Fourrier and Marcia Dutra de Barcelos saw many of the breeding females grazing contently under cider trees, a scene very traditional and unique to Herefordshire. Guests also viewed a pictorial display of Hereford Royal Show Champions from the late 1800's and had an opportunity to judge and place four bulls and four cows. Prior to announcement of the first three placings, master judges' Mrs Jan Wills and Mr Clive Davies gave their reasons. In first place was Mrs Gunbritt Dahlqvist from Sweden, second was Australian Lynn Vearing and in third place from Germany was Ms Thurid Mechler.

 After completing an intensive tour, covering two major shows, four herd visits and a half day conference, visitors attended the Gala Dinner at the Telford Golf & Spa Hotel. On the menu was some excellent dry aged Hereford beef supplied by Dovecote Park. Following dinner delegates were able to unwind and let their hair down to the sounds of ABBA Forever. As the clock ticked past midnight and with audience demanding more, the band took their final bow.  

Hereford Raffle Draw ~ European Conference 2010

The results of the Raffle Draw in aid of sponsoring the recent European Hereford Conference were as follows:-
 
Ritchie Cattle Crush (left): Mr E.L. Townsend, Dorchester-on-Thames, Oxfordshire

Ritchie Calf Crate (right): Mr O.P.F Brockway, Shaftesbury, Dorset.



Border Fine Arts Group of Three: Mrs Carolyn Fletcher, Cumbria




 
Congratulations to the prize winners and many thanks to all who purchased tickets.

A world-wide surge in demand for Hereford beef

A world-wide resurgence in the Hereford breed came into sharp focus at the European Hereford Conference, held in the UK last week (28 June). Unprecedented demand for Hereford cattle in many parts of the world was not only considered to be excellent news for the Breed and its British breeders, but was also a reflection of a growing appreciation of taste and ‘eating quality’, which were increasingly lacking in ‘commodity beef’.
Nowhere did this message come more strongly than from Jan Wills, Secretary General of the World Hereford Council who said that in her native New Zealand, the Hereford breed had recently been awarded best retail brand in the prestigious ‘Steak of Origin’ awards, while a leading abattoir had just begun paying a premium price for Hereford pure and cross-bred beef.

This reflected similar schemes in the UK, where quality retailers such as Waitrose were already rewarding Hereford breeding with better prices.
But Hereford breeders had no room for complacency and must adapt to changing market demands, said keynote speaker, Marcia Dutra de Barcellos, Associate Professor in marketing and business strategy from Brazilian University, Rio Grande do Sul.
“Demand for quality beef is immense, and there is still a lot of room for growth,” she said. “And in my opinion, there’s a lot of space for the Hereford breed.”
But coining the phrase, ‘survival of the most marketable’, she said that producers had to innovate and adapt to changing consumer demands with both their product and its marketing. They were competing in a rapidly changing market place in which convenience products were often based on poultry, with which they must compete head-on.
“There’s a huge place for innovation and the beef industry can do much more,” she said.
Citing the example of online sales, she said: “You can buy Hereford steak on the internet, but to do that, you really have to trust your product so you must have consistent quality.”
Suggesting the way forward was through co-operation at every stage, she said producers had to adopt a ‘chain mentality’ and form ‘alignments of interest’.

Robin Irvine from County Armagh, Chairman of the UK’s Hereford Cattle Society and architect of the conference theme ‘Building the Hereford Brand’, said the Society’s own innovative ‘Superior Carcase Sire Scheme’ was a step in this direction. Aimed at commercial and pedigree breeders, he said these represented the first step in a complex food chain and were now being offered a cash incentive by the Society to use sires which could deliver improved quality to each link of this chain.
Launched earlier this year, the scheme offers producers of pure, or cross-bred Hereford calves £5 per calf, up to a maximum of £500. The offer was open to the progeny of designated high performance sires with good Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) for Retail Beef Yield (RBY), Eye Muscle Area (EMA) and Terminal Sire Index (TSI).
“This is an investment by our Society and is intended to highlight the real potential of high performance Hereford-sired progeny,” said Mr Irvine. “We are pleased that, at three of the four Hereford Society events held this spring, ‘Superior Carcase Sires’ have taken the top prices and have also been judged Champions or Class Winners.”
With a further performance benefit also conferred on any herd using high EBV sires, he said that independent EBLEX estimates were that a 50 cow suckler herd could benefit to the tune of £1,500 to £2,000 per annum through the better performance to be gained from using high, over average genetic merit sires.

Romany 1 Captain takes the Royal Highland Inter-Breed Championship

The 2010 Inter-breed Beef Champion is Romany 1 Captain, exhibited by A.E. Nesbitt Farms Ltd, North Standen Estate, Hungerford, Berkshire.
Pictured left with "Captain" are from L-R, Mrs Jan Wills Secretary General of the World Hereford Council, professional showman Keith Jempson, Hereford Breed Judge Jens Micheal Jensen from Denmark, owner Aileen Nesbitt, Sponsor John Hamilton from RBS and Breed President Reg Hutchings.
Aileen & Stephen Nesbitt run 35 Hereford cows at their home in Berkshire where "Captain" is stock bull for the herd. He is by Crickley 1 Figurehead, a former Hereford Sire of the Year and out of Romany 1 Julia. Bought from J.R.B Wilson & Sons, Cowbog, Kelso for the herd after standing Junior Inter-breed Champion at the Royal Highland Show three years ago in a private deal for a figure in the region of £8000.


Pictured right is Romany 1 Dawn A84 F50, exhibited & bred by J.R.B Wilson & Sons, took the Overall Junior and Female Championships. This topped a marvellous day for the Wilson family, who not only bred the Supreme Champion but also the Reserve Male Champion Romany 1 Distiller, exhibited by J.M. Cant & Partners. 


Pictured left is Barwise 1 Rambling Rose, by current Hereford Sire of the Year Barwise 1 Wellington, with well known breeder Ms Carolyn Fletcher of Barwise Herefords, Cumbria with Irish Hereford Society Chairman Willie Branagan. "Rambling Rose" was awarded the Senior and Reserve Female Championship by Danish Judge Jens Michael Jensen.

Commercial Beef Producers encouraged to use Superior Carcase Sires

The recently launched Hereford Superior Carcase Sire Scheme has already started to prove its value – at three out of four Official Sales since the launch the top price bulls sold were such Sires.

Chairman Robin Irvine (right) discusses the Scheme with Dovecote Park Cattle Procurement Manager, Kate Sutton; EBLEX, Western Regional Manager, Clive Brown (left) and Tom Kemp exhibiting a Superior Carcase Sire at Beef Expo 2010

The bull pictured, Fisher 1 Ensign (pictured below right), took the Reserve Male Championship at the Society’s Spring Show & Sale and sold for 5,500 gns.

This innovative new project is aimed at improving the carcase quality of both Pedigree and Commercial Hereford Cattle and, to encourage Commercial users to use these Superior Carcase Bulls, the Society is offering a cash incentive of up to £500 to purchasers of qualifying sires.

Eligibility of the bulls selected is based on the Society’s Breedplan Recording Programme with specific emphasis on the EBV for Retail Beef Yield (RBY) – this EBV is a factor calculated from scanned measurements of Eye Muscle Area and Fat Depth and, so as to ensure that the remaining traits are recorded at an acceptable level, all qualifying bulls must also have a Terminal Sire Index (Beef Value) in the top half of the Breed.

To assist both Pedigree and Commercial buyers to easily identify qualifying bulls, a selection programme is being built into the Society’s website and will be available on line in the very near future.

Inaugural Native Breeds Championships

Details have just been released for the Inaugural Native Breeds Championships scheduled to take place in Portadown on Saturday 18th September 2010.  This is a totally unique event and will be staged during the highly successful "Country Comes To Town" festival which attracts in excess of 60,000 visitors each year.
The Native Breeds Championships is designed to be a show case for Aberdeen Angus, Beef Shorthorn and Hereford cattle and will feature a full range of judging classes in each section. The setting is the picturesque People's Park in Portadown by kind permission of Craigavon Borough Council.

(Above left) Looking forward to the Inaugural Native Breeds Championships set to be held in Portadown on 18th September are committee members (L-R)
Nigel Matchett, Robin Lamb, Libby Clarke, Richard Henning, Raymond Pogue, Gail Matchett and James Graham. Schedules are available by contacting Libby Clarke on 0777 5584884.

Cormac McKervey, Ulster Bank Senior Agricultural Manager and Kelly Anne Grier, Business Manager Portadown (pictured right) are delighted to be linked to the Inaugural Native Breeds Championships scheduled to take place at the People's Park, Portadown on Saturday 18th September. This coincides with the Country Comes To Town Festival which attracts over 50,000 visitors annually.
 
Director of Agriculture James Graham is highly enthusiastic about the merits of such an event "We feel that a high profile event such as this is an ideal platform to raise awareness of the merits of these important breeds of cattle. Their popularity as both terminal sires and producers of superior replacement females is second to none. We are confident that the Native Breeds Championships will become a firm favourite in the agricultural diary and would encourage breeder's to plan to attend with stock. There is generous prize money available in each class culminating in top level rewards for Champion exhibits"

Sponsorship is coming in thick and fast for the Native Breeds Championships, and organisers are delighted to confirm generous support from the Ulster Bank. Cormac McKervey, Senior Agricultural Manager commented "Ulster Bank are delighted to sponsor the Native Breeds Championships and are excited by the original concept that sets it apart from many other events. It is aimed at promoting all that is good about farming and the native breeds are a reminder of how farming has evolved over the years. Ulster Banks sponsorship demonstrates our commitment to building on the great traditions of cattle breeders over many generations and in supporting local farmers."
 
(Pictured left) Director of Agriculture James Graham discusses plans with Alderman Sidney Anderson and Brian McLauglin Secretary Country Comes To Town.
In addition to the comprehensive list of cattle show classes there are two young handler categories aimed at nurturing interest and encouraging youngsters from the age of ten to twenty years old.
 
Watch press for full details of the Native Breeds Championships as they unfold during the summer months. Schedules and entry forms are available now. Request yours today by contacting Management Secretary: Libby Clarke 0777 5584884 or email nativebreedschampionships@gmail.com

New breeders make history with embryo export to the USA

Relative new breeders Mr Andrew Hughes & Ms Anita Gilson (pictured left) from Cullompton, Devon have exported 13 embryos to Ron Jarell from West Virginia, United States of America.
Eight of the embryos were flushed from Llancillo Hall Beauty 17th (below left), a full sister to successful young bull Binnegar Winston and five from 2006 & 2009 Horned Female of the Year Llancillo Hall Hazel 20th (pictured below right).

Ron saw the two cows whilst visiting last years Three Counties Show in Malvern, where he picked out our cattle from a strong line-up of females, said Anita. "Ron then contacted us in the September and asked us if we would flush the 2 cows, to which we agreed" Anita added.
The embryos were dispatched recently by Sheila Eggleston of Eggsport, Hexham. Anita went on to say, "We must thank Sheila for completing all the paperwork and logistics so efficiently, the export went very smoothly. We must also give a special thanks to our veterinary surgeon Duncan Findlay of Vale Vets, Cullompton, Devon, who skillfully conducted procedures and liaised with Sheila in ensuring all embryos were safely obtained and transported to the US.

We are delighted to have completed the export from our herd of Binnegar Herefords and for the Hereford Breed in general. Mr Jarell has invited Andrew and me to West Virginia to see the resulting calves on the ground in 2011, and hopes to get one good enough to show in the future".

Well done Jennifer McMordie!

Seamus Maguire, general manager Intervet Schering Plough Animal Health, congratulates Jennifer McMordie of Moneyreagh YFC on becoming 2010 Young Farmers Clubs of Ulster exchangee to New Zealand. 
Commenting Seamus noted that the YFCU Exchange Programme offers members a unique opportunity to explore the rural way of life in 13 nations.
“Intervet Schering Plough Animal Health are delighted to assist Jennifer with travel costs and we look forward to reading her reports from NZ, a nation noted for innovation in agriculture.”
 Despite delays caused by Icelandic ash Jennifer arrived in the Northland of New Zealand this past week, an area dominated by sheep and beef farming, but currently suffering from drought.
 With the McMordies of Solitude, Ballygowan noted Hereford breeders for three generations no doubt Jennifer will be comparing stock seen with those back home in the famous Solpoll Herd run by her father John and brother William.
The Moneyrea Club PRO then visits farm families around the well named Bay of Plenty before heading for the east coast of North Island, home to sheep and beef farms, national parks and another live volcano, Mt Ruapehu!
 Following the NZ National Field Days around Waikato, a massive event, and visits to Rotorua the YFC exchangee flies to South Island for a tour of Christchurch, Canterbury and Otago before catching a UK bound flight on June 28.

Explosive start to the Show Season for the Hereford Breed!

Northern Ireland Hereford breeders put on a strong display at the Royal Ulster show held at the Balmoral Showgrounds in Belfast. With numbers well up on previous years, judging was in the capable hands of Mr Clive Davies, Westwood Herefords. He found his Champion from a strong class of six senior bulls in Solpoll 1 Dynamite, bred and exhibited by John and William McMordie, Ballygowan.  "Dynamite" (pictured above left) had also been breed Champion at the Royal Ulster last year but went further this year in being placed Reserve Interbreed Champion by the panel consisting of judges from all the other breeds. This is the closest a Hereford has come to winning the Interbreed Championship at the Royal Ulster in twenty-six years.

The Reserve Male and Overall Reserve was Lisrace Lumberjack (pictured right), the winner of the middle bull class. Lumberjack was sired by Glaslough Caption, judged the Best Stock Bull in last Year’s N.I. herd competition and exhibited by David Wilson, Magheraveely. The Junior Championship was won by Fortview Frontrunner from David Smyth, Ballynahinch. Sired by Border Powerhouse B25, he was the winner of the young bull class and had been shown successfully last year as a calf, collecting the Junior Male Championship at the N.I. Calf Show.

In the Female Section the Champion and Reserve came from the senior heifer class where fifteen heifers were competing in what was the largest class of cattle at the show. Solpoll 1 Starlet E16, a daughter of Solpoll 1 Cantona from John and William McMordie, Ballygowan came out on top to collect the Female Championship. Starlet E16, pictured above left, is from the same dam as Starlet D6 who was Female Champion at the N.I. National last year. In Reserve was Dorepoll 1 518 Tessa 545 exhibited by JE RI & W Haire, Dundrod. This daughter of Dorepoll 1 93N Nationwide was last years Junior Champion at the Royal Ulster.

Hereford Spring Show & Sale at Hereford Market

The Hereford Cattle Society’s Spring Show and Sale on Saturday reached a top of 5,500 gns. for the Reserve Male Champion, two year old Fisher 1 Ensign E254 (pictured left).

“Ensign”, a son of Costhorpe 1 Top Gun, was bred by W.J. Hutchings & Sons of Chichester, W. Sussex and qualified under the Society’s new initiative as a Superior Carcase Quality Sire – he was purchased by M.J. Clark, Lowesmoor Herefords, Tetbury, Gloucester.

Second highest price paid was 5,000 gns. for 18 month old Dendor 1 Flinder sired by Yalgoo Boulder Z250 and bred by D.E., E.D. & A.L. Jones, Newtown, Powys.
“Flinder” was purchased by H.A. Hatt of Weybrook Herefords, Basingstoke, Hampshire.

The Grand Male Championship went to Mrs. J.M. Cant & Ptns. of Arbroath, Angus with their 20 month old Panmure 1 Fred by well known bull Solpoll 1 Brigadier (pictured below left).
“Fred”, the 2009 National Hereford Calf Show Champion, sold for 4,000 gns. and was purchased by M. Ludgate, Rempstone Herefords, Thame, Oxfordshire.

G. Blandford & Son of Bosbury, Ledbury, Herefordshire sold another qualifying Superior Carcase Sire, 18 month old Bosa 1 Flintoff, a son of Solpoll 1 Boomerang for 3,800 gns., purchased by newcomer to the Breed, Mr. H. Bellm of Binfield, Berkshire.

15 Bulls sold for £39,772.95 to Average £2,651.50

An excellent demand for females commenced with the Show Heifers and, again, it was the Reserve Champion topping the Sale – a 23 month old heifer, Barwise 1 Ann-Joliena, selling for 3,000 gns (pictured right).

“Ann-Joliena”, bred by Cumbria breeder Mrs. C.S. Fletcher of Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria, is a daughter of the 2009 Sire of the Year, Barwise 1 Wellington, and was purchased by another newcomer to the Breed, Mr. M. Shaw, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire.

Mr. Shaw also purchased the 23 month old incalf heifer, Barwise 1 Anna-Mation, another daughter of Barwise 1 Wellington, for 2,000 gns.

Local breeders, M. & M. Roberts of Hoarwithy, Herefordshire sold the first heifer through the ring, two year old Bromley 1 Vanessa, sired by Dorepoll 1 Crown Royal and incalf to the Danish Bull, Moeskaer Salute 994. “Vanessa” was purchased by M.T.L. Jones of Broadfield Herefords, Westhide, Herefordshire for 2,600 gns.

The Grand Female Champion, 17 month old Dendor 1 Goldie 12th, by the Irish bull Udel 1 Windjammer, bred by Messrs. Jones of Newtown, Powys, sold for 1,500 gns.

“Goldie”  (pictured left) was one of 4 heifers purchased by Mr. H. Bellm, Binfield, Berkshire which included the Scottish bred heifer, 19 month old Romany 1 Dawn R22 F3, a daughter of Crickley 1 Figurehead, selling for 1,700 gns.

P.J. & A.C. Allman of Amberley Court, Sutton St. Nicholas, Herefordshire, sold their 16 month old heifer, Greenyards 1 Portia F79, sired by Mosston Muir 1 Crawford for 1,800 gns. to M.J. & H.M. Timmis, Shraden Herefords, Baschurch, Shrewsbury.

10 Show Heifers sold for £18,322.50 to Average £1,832.25

The For Sale Only section of Heifers and Cows saw 14 of the 15 Lots on offer selling for £16,117.50 to Average £1,151.20.
Top price went to the 23 month old incalf heifer, Greenyards 3 Glen 3rd sold by P.J. & A.C. Allman for 1,450 gns. to R. Randall & Sons, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire.

Overall the Sale saw 39 cattle selling for £74,212.95 to Average £1,903.00
Auctioneers – Brightwells, Leominster

Quality Turnout at Dungannon

At the Native Breeds’ Show & Sale in Dungannon on Tuesday 20th April, top price of the day went to the first prizewinning bull Graceland 1 Freddie bred by Robin Irvine, Co. Armagh.

Pictured left with Graceland 1 Freddie, a Superior Carcase Sire, are breeder Robin Irvine and Judge Albert de Cogan.  "Freddie" a son of Udel 1 R51 WWW Dot sold for 2,500 gns.

The Champion and Reserve Champion were bred by David Wilson, Co. Fermanagh. Pictured right are NIHBA Chairman Raymond Pogue admiring the Champion with exhibitor David Wilson & Son Jack.
Both were sired by Glaslough Captain and sold for 2,000 gns and 1,900 gns respectively, a third bull of David Wilsons, also by Captain sold for 1,700 gns.

Sale Average £2,121.00

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

HLS in action.......
A new environmental era began at Barton Hill Farm, Kentchurch, Herefordshire in November 2009 after the end of the CSS. Bill and Gina Quan, tenants of the Kentchurch Estate farm, were pleased to welcome the new wave of environmental Stewardship onto the 253ha mainly arable farm.

The CSS agreement began at Barton Hill in 1999 with the main focus being reversion of steep arable ground to grass, protecting water courses feeding the River Monnow from soil run off. Bill and Gina were keen to maintain the investment made under the original scheme and to build on its achievements.
Natural England advisers visited early in 2009 in order to consider the differences
between the schemes and to see what the possibilities were for ELS/HLS. Bill’s ideas for the farm were discussed and in particular the importance of ‘production and protection’.
It was vital that early contact was made in order to accommodate the HLS application process, which is more involved than that needed for ELS only applications. FWAG were commissioned to complete the mandatory Farm Environment Plan (FEP) and the application was submitted in time to allow a smooth transition from the CSS to the combined ELS/HLS agreement.
The new agreement has added a river walk and a stroll (or drive for those not able to walk easily) to a fantastic viewpoint plus school visits so that Bill can tell his ‘Potato Story’.
The CSS investment is being augmented by adding flowers to extensively managed grasslands and supporting Bill’s rare breed Hereford cattle.
The ELS/HLS agreement adds another dimension to this already diverse
Herefordshire farm and demonstrates the Quan’s mission to ‘articulate the balance between mainstream commercial farming, conservation and education’.
For more information regarding renewing an agreement telephone 0300 060 1115.



The fabulous viewpoint looks towards the Black Mountains
(Charlotte Morgan)



 

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.

Hereford Beef - Simply the Best

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