Qualities of the Hereford Breed
The characteristics of the modern Hereford were implanted by a group of breeders in Herefordshire more than 200 years ago. Their objective was to fix in one strain of animal the desirable traits of hardiness, early maturity, prolificacy and the swift, efficient conversion of grass into meat so firmly that the transmission of these qualities from father to son could always be relied upon. Their success was spectacular and the Hereford became the cornerstone of the beef economy in all the cattle raising countries in the world.
Adaptability
One of the most important factors in the Hereford breeds popularity has been its ability to adapt easily to a variety of management systems and environmental conditions throughout Ireland, from Connemara to Meath and from Donegal to Kerry.
Feed Efficiency
Figures produced by Teagasc Grange in relation to the production of two-year- old beef show that to finish 50 head of continental cross steers to their recommended carcass weight of 380Kgs. Would require 550 tons of silage and 50 tons of concentrate. These same Teagasc figures also show that a similar amount of feed will finish 78 hereford cross steers to their recommended carcass weight of 290Kgs. Thirteen weeks sooner allowing a surplus of 11 tons of concentrate unused. The extra 28 animals finished are also now eligible for the 22 month beef premium and the £60.00 slaughter premium. These animals will qualify for intervention if necessary though due to its eating quality it is much more likely to be sold to an Irish, UK or German supermarket chain. Teagasc also inform us that average stocking rates per animal sold per year for the spring system are for Hereford crosses, 1.2 acres for continental crosses.
Breeding Principles
The basic principle governing cattle production is that a breed must be fit to survive and thrive in the environment in which it is raised, on a cost effective basis. The breed must have a reasonable balance between productive traits and carcase excellence, always remembering that without the first the second is irrelevant. The Hereford breed, the worlds most numerous beef breed has singularly met these important economic criteria. Put another way - a breed to succeed to-day must possess one or more unique traits that are needed by the commercial beef industry together with the other characteristics required such as: fertility, calving ease, calf survival rate, milking ability, hardiness, longivity, rustling ability, fast rate of liveweightgain, good feed conversion, conformation and carcase quality.
Dairy Farmers
The black Hereford Freisian calf has been a market leader without parallel for decades. At any stage in his growth a Hereford cross Freisian animal is salable at a premium price. No other breed can compete as a crossing sire on Friesians with the Hereford.
Hormones
With the ban on hormones breeders are again coming up with "genetic changer bulls" with a greater volume of red meat. The search goes on endlessly for the very best seedstock to maintain the Hereford in its leading position as the premier beef breed in Ireland.
Optimum Beef Production
As Irish farmers strive for optimum production it becomes essential that management be based on cost-benefit analysis. This concept means that breeds, and their crosses are chosen which are best suited to the available feed resources such as grass, silage, and hay which are grown in abundance. More than any other beef breed Hereford performs best naturally. Herefords utilise grass/ silage/hay to maximum effect by converting them to natural , wholesome lean red meat, efficiently.
Cow Fertility
Fertility and reproduction affects the profit potential of a cow herd more than any other trait. It is five times more important than the growth traits and ten times as important as carcase traits. Hereford popularity and widespread usage has come about because the females have the ability to wean a calf every year, rebreed quickly and do it adapting to the available feed supply. Results show Herefords to be significantly superior in weaning more total kilos of calf. The biggest difference recorded was in the area of pregnancy rate where the straight Hereford group has a 97 percent pregnancy compared to only an 82 percent rate for the cows bred to exotic bulls. A majority of Hereford females reach puberty by the time they are 14 months of age. This means that they have a proper growth and development of their reproductive system to calve as two year olds. Therefore, they are able to keep a short calving season when added to the mature cow herd.
Bull Fertility
A bull's task during mating is to get cows in calf. The bull must serve each cow in heat. The number of services a bull achieves in a mating period is a good measure of a bull's libido and is related to his ability to settle cows. In this field the hereford bull excells.
