A past President of the Society Denis represented the Munster Region on the Society’s Council for six consecutive terms including two as Chairman of its Finance committee. As President he represented Irish Herefords at the European Hereford Conference in Finland/Estonia in 1998.

 

 

Denis was a key member of the Society’s planning committee for the very successful European Hereford Conference held in Ireland in 2005, the largest ever held in Europe. His catering skills developed at Aer Rianta Shannon looking after the needs of international travellers were honed to perfection and an important element of that success. His attention to detail is most impressive, nothing is left to chance.

 

The moderately sized Templeglantine herd was developed through the judicious use of top AI bulls used on select females to produce the type of bull required by the many repeat customers who looked for predictability and reliability. Perhaps the best known is Templeglantine Boxer (TGB) the very successful Sligo AI bull by SJ43G Domino 36N noted for ease of calving and the quality of his progeny.

 

Denis has for several years now been the automatic choice to carry out the onerous task of Chief Steward at the Society’s National Hereford Show at Tullamore. He is meticulous with the records ensuring the multiplicity of classes run smoothly throughout. The international judges who have presided at the event are high in their praise for his help, assistance and efficiency.

 

Denis has also acted as Chief Steward at other major Hereford Shows including Nenagh, Trim and Beef Expo. For his honesty, integrity and his longtime commitment to the breed the Irish Hereford Society have no hesitation in nominating Denis Collins for the 2012 Hall of Fame Award.

 

 

Co Wexford breeder Glen Jacob Dunsinane Enniscorthy secured the €3,200 top price of the day for his 1^st prizewinning Dunsinane Monroe. A five star bull in the top 1% of the breed for weanling export and top 5% for the other beef traits he is sired by Bowmont Storm A584. Storm has been producing some excellent progeny which is in demand for both dairy and suckler beef herds. Monroe is out of Dunsinane Tara 3^rd a Lisrace Lifeliner daughter and was purchased by Cornelius McCarthy Carrigfadda Skibbereen.

 

 

The 5 star Champion Glaslough King was shown by Sam and Nigel Heatrick Glaslough Co Monaghan. This is the second champion by herd sire Rathregan Napoleon exhibited by the Heatrick’s within a week. Glaslough Jim was Champion at Nenagh six days earlier selling at €3,700. Out of a homebred dam Apple Blossom by Ballyaville Nelson the champion sold to Sean Shiel, Coolnacritta, Co Laois at €2,900.

 

 

Padraig McGrath, Cloonshannagh, Elphin, Co Roscommon exhibited the Reserve Champion Kye Storm 569 which was purchased by Jeremiah Looby, Clarkstown, Lattin, Co Tipperary at €3,000 by top sire Bowmont Storm A584 his dam Kye Spot 4^th is by Lisnabin Jovial.

 

 

Allowdale Cutler sired by CH 3223 Visa ET 57X was exhibited by Kanturk couple Liam Philpott and Anne Pounds Knocknacolan.   Out of a cow Westwood Laura 386^th by Ervie King Kong purchased in the UK this five star bull was bought by Connie Cronin Agharinagh Dripsey Co Cork at €3,050. The Allowdale herd is based on top bloodlines purchased here in Ireland the UK and more recently female lines purchased in Canada and the US.

 

 

Well known Cork breeder Ted O’Sullivan, Rathoneigh, Bartlemy a regular exhibitor was awarded 1^st prize for his Furaleigh Prince 757 by Carhuefree Prince. Out of Furaleigh Buttercup 646 by Trillick Best he sold to Joe Carroll, Clonbrien, Athlacca, Co Limerick at €3,000.

 

David Larkin, The Hermitage, Kilcormack exhibited Cill Cormaic Jet a 5 star bull by his successful herd sire Ballinpraise Brandy. Out of Cloonbracken Emily by Churchill Storm he sold at €2,900 to Dan McCarthy, Shandrum, Charleville.

 

Michael Daly, Colingercuy, Milltown, Co Kerry was the purchaser at €2,900 of Trillick Miracle from the herd of JJ Farrell, Longford. By herd sire Steil Gerard a Churchill Storm son he is out of Cloghran Ally by Corlismore Winner.

 

The solid demand for Hereford bulls is welcomed by Irish Hereford Prime who market Hereford beef at home and abroad as increasing numbers of Hereford cross animals are required to fill expanding markets into the future.

 

Hereford calf prices at GVM Kilmallock one of Ireland's leading calf markets have reached over €500 for 3 week old bull calves and €495 for heifers of similar age in recent weeks.

 

The overall average for the sale was €2440 with a range of €1800 to €3200 and a clearance of 82%.

 

The Hereford Society's bull sale at Nenagh was very well attended with strong demand for the bulls forward and a top price of €3,700. Due to current demand a number of bulls entered had already been sold at Kilkenny, Kilmallock or  through farm to farm sales. The top price on the day was paid for the Champion a five star bull from the herd of Sam and Nigel Heatrick, Glaslough Co Monaghan. This well grown bull is sired by herd sire Rathregan Napoleon and out of Glaslough Nell a Gageboro Suave daughter. He was purchased at €3,700 by Ger O'Brien, Ballyvarra, Lisnagry, Co Limerick.

 

 

The Reserve Champion Steil Timopthy 186 was exhibited by Joe McCormack, Steil, Tulsk, Co Roscommon. Sired by Yarram Star General out of a homebred dam Steil Ellen by Trillick Best he sold at €3000 to Robert Lanigan, Tullamaine, Fethard, Co Tipperary. Another son of Star General Knockmountagh Basil entered for this sale was sold at Kilkenny a few days earlier for €3950 by Louth breeders Eamon and John McKiernan.

 

 

Griananpoll 1 Kaptan a Romany 1 Captain R22 C1 son shown by T & A Fitzgerald, Mount Temple, Moate found a new home when the auctioneer's hammer dropped at €3250. Out of Grianan Curly Sue by Yarram Pompeii the purchaser was Pat and Gavin Larkin, Dunderry, Navan, Co Meath.

 

 

Another bull to sell at €3250 was Fionn Tra Emperor by Glaslough Esquire ot of Ocean Promise 6th by Trillick Best. Bred by Fergal O'Se Ceann Tra, Tralee he was exhibited by Kieran Harty, Ballylongane, Ballyheigue who bred the dam. The purchaser was well known Co Limerick breeder Pat Hayes of Kildromin, Kilteely.

 

 

Padraig Farrell, Fardrum, Athlone exhibited Corrmore Bovine an Ardlahan Ginger son out of Cave Deidre by top maternal sire Smithston Something Special at €3000 to John Sheehy, Ballyphilip, Nenagh. This bull was bred by Enda Brazil, Ballinahown, Athlone. The general run of prices were from €2400 to €2850 with an average of €2585 a range of €2000 to €3700 and a clearance of 80%.

 

The Society's next sale takes place at GVM Kilmallock this Friday the 27^th of April.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Hereford breed is renowned for ease of calving, short gestation and above all docility a trait that is passed on to the calves, this docility trait has been proven to fatten cattle quicker and improve meat taste and quality. The reason these young Hereford-cross calves are so sought after is because they are so much easier to flesh than the straight Holstein-Friesian cross, the beef finisher can get a Premium price for his Hereford-cross cattle from the meat plants. Irish Hereford Prime who market Hereford beef both at home and abroad are finding it increasingly difficult to source enough Hereford cattle to service their customers. Such is the demand from the restaurant trade for high quality beef that is consistently tender and grass reared with the minimum of grain used to finish the cattle. This grass fed beef has been shown to be high in Omega 3 and have more flavour than intensively produced grain fed beef.

 

Beef farming tends to lag behind the dairy sector in the adoption of new technologies and farming innovation. The dairy farmer is far more focused on the bottom line. The utilization and production of grass has become paramount to profitability. Twenty years ago dairy farmers were using ½ to 1 tonne of concentrates per cow, now most farmers are using far less 100kg to 250kg depending on land type and the farmer’s ability to grow early grass. This has been achieved through better grassland management and the adoption of new genetics. The modern dairy cow is smaller and requires less input to produce milk.

 

 

In contrast beef farmers are still addicted to grain even though the era of cheap grain has passed. Less than 6% of beef farmers are making a profit without the single farm payment. By incorporating modern Hereford genetics farmers can reduce their dependence on grain to finish cattle, in some instances grain can be eliminated completely especially for heifers.

 

Farmers are continually being told to be more efficient but the goal post’s keep shifting, what was efficient ten years ago may not be now. Farmers need to be adaptable at the end of the day it’s all about making money. World population is increasing rapidly more food is needed but it has to be produced in an environmentally friendly fashion. Beef from the dairy herd has been shown to hve a low carbon footprint an increasingly important factor for the future.This is where the Hereford breed excels. Their ability to utilize roughage has been recognised for centuries allied with the superior eating quality of their meat makes a compelling reason for incorporating Hereford genetics into the beef herds of the future.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Society President Frank Considine from Cree, Kilrush in Co. Clare said he was very pleased with the quality exhibited and delighted to see a full clearance.

 

As his Champion he selected Oakland Peter by Balleen Generator 6^th born in June 2011 and exhibited by John Lucey, Clohina, Kilnamartyra and purchased by Dan Lucey of Ballyvourney.

 

 

 

Oalkand Jeff from the same exhibitor sired by Rathcor Ranger was secured by Thomas Leader, Rathcoole, Mallow at 2600 to average 2750 for the pair.

 

Well known breeder Ted O’Sullivan from Bartlemy, Co. Cork exhibited the 2^nd and 3^rd prizewinners in his class. Furaleigh Prince 759 the Reserve Champion sired by Carhuefree Prince was purchased at 2700 by local man Kenneth Kingston, Kilbrittan, Bandon while Furaleigh Generator 758 by Balleen Generator 6^th also sire of the Champion sold at 2850 to Martin Hayes of Rosscarbery to average 2775.

 

 

Declan Murphy, Arlinstown, Ballinhassig is a regular exhibitor at Bandon and had two bulls on offer. Arlinstown Storm by Aussie bull Bowmont Storm bought by Anthony Barrett, Millstreet at 2820 while Arlinstown Garry 3^rd a further son of Balleen Generator 6^th to feature was sold to Owen Doherty, Headford, Killarney when the hammer dropped at 2250.

 

Balleen Generator 6^th was bred by well known Kilkenny man Tom Brennan of Freshford and was successful herd sire at the Skehanore herd of Tom Hickey, Ballydehob. Semen of the bull is available to breeders through the Societys Breed Improvement Scheme.

 

Local Hereford council member Pat McCarthy who attended the sale said that current prices for Hereford calves at the mart were the highest experienced for some time with higher quality making higher prices.

 

Range 2900-1680