In the 1940’s we milked a herd of Shorthorn cows in Moygara. These included two Pedigree Registered cows purchased from the Marist Convent in Tubbercurry and carrying the “Darlington” prefix.
In the late fifties we started to
use British Friesan to increase milk yields with a gradual reduction in Shorthorn influence until the eighties when we were down to one cow. In the late eighties we ceased dairying and changed to sucking. The first sucked cows were Shrothorn X Angus. These
were replaced in the early nineties with Salers – the first herd in Ireland to import the breed.
Having purchased a second farm we started a full Pedigree Shorthorn Herd in 1996 with the purchase of two “Highfield” heifers plus two
“Whitecastle”. These were added to by a further two from
“Whitecastle” and three at the “Novohal” dispersal. AI bulls used since were “Dovea Sir James”, “Kilkelly Major” and “Blockbuster”,
together with a stock bull. Our present stock bull is “Ballylinney Eagle” purchased in Scotland as a five month old calf. His first calves arrived this spring and are showing real promise.
March 2017.
Eagle has certainly brought our Beef Shorthorns to another level. He has bred some excellent females, the first of which to join the herd is Moygara Hazel who herself had a sweet heifer calf by Kilkelly Major
in Sept 2016.
Up to July 2016 Eagle has bred 37 calves, 24 heifers and 13 bulls,
He is not doing himself any favours breeding a female to male ratio of 2:1. With daughters ready to join the herd we will shortly are looking out for a replacement.
Hopefully we will be able to source a bull that will build on the genetic improvements already made and breed Shorthorns of higher genetic merit. Shorthorns are rightly known to be excellent breeding females, excellent feed efficiency, fertile,
hardy and long lasting. By participating in the BDGP we now have figures to reinforce what we have learned through experience and give an objective measurement of the benefits of Shorthorns as suckler dams.
A look over eleven cows in the herd shows them at nine 5 star, one 4 star and one 3 star, with replacement values from €63 - €137.
Eight cows calved so far this season, all calved themselves bar one. We have nine calves on the ground, six heifers and three bulls.
Eagle
has also bred some quality bulls:
Moygara Exile, born 20.3.14 (Eagle * Lickeen Beauty). Class winner at Shorthorn Society Sale April 2016. Sold to Graigue Shorthorns,
Loughrea, Co. Galway April 2016
Moygara Bounty, born 14.12.14 (Eagle * Moygara Tulip) sold to Gortavoy Farms, NI Feb 2017.
Moygara Eagle 755, born 8.1.16 (Eagle * Moygara Tulip) For Sale Spring 2017
Moygara Eagle 754,
born 11.11.15 (Eagle * Moygara Barberry) For Sale Spring 2017
I will try not to leave it as long before the next update. When the cows get out I will get some pics of them to put up.