The pedigree world was dealt a shock last week with the news that Limousin Society breed secretary Paul Sykes is stepping down from his role.

The Mayo man was highly regarded, not just in Limousin circles, but in the wider pedigree fraternity and his exit is a huge loss to pedigree breeders across all breeds.

Often the voice of reason at fraught industry meetings between pedigree breeders and the ICBF, his ability to look at the bigger picture and listen to everyone’s side of the story will be sorely missed.

Legacy

One of his lasting legacies will be how he developed the UK market for Irish breeders and made UK customers a regular sight around the ringside in Roscrea at premier sales, something the envy of many other breed societies.