Exports are crucial for the success of the Irish pedigree sector. The last decade has seen active interest from a number of foreign countries keen to acquire pedigree breeding stock, none more prominent than our neighbours in the UK.
Many of the premier sale-toppers find their final destination across the Irish Sea.
These buyers become key to driving sales, giving top-end breeders reassurance that if they breed bulls of a high enough standard, they will be paid for it.
This trend continues today, with many hopeful that UK buyers will still be active at pedigree sales this spring, despite the ongoing Brexit negotiations.
While we don’t know yet whether this will happen, what we do know is one globally recognised AI stud continues to invest in some of the best Irish genetics available.
Over the past number of years, Cogent has acquired six bulls, with talks that another four have gone into isolation for health tests.
Cogent, founded in 1995, now operates the UK’s largest bull stud and supplies products to 40 countries.
Investment
This major company’s investment in Irish genetics is a clear indication that the type of cattle Ireland is breeding is in high demand. It is also a vote of confidence in our national herd health, with Cogent easily finding Irish herds that meet the high EU collection standards.
As well as providing the UK with one of the largest ranges of bulls available, in 2015 Eurogene AI services was announced as the exclusive distributor for Cogent’s signature beef range. This means that the bulls acquired by Cogent in recent years are also available to Irish breeders.
Boomer Birch is the beef programme manager with Cogent UK and he talks us through what he hopes the Irish-bred bulls currently available will add to the expanding stud.
Boomer Birch, beef programme manager with Cogent UK, goes through what he hopes the Irish-bred bulls currently available will add to the expanding stud
Gouldingpoll 1 Goldspice
Joined spring 2018
Sire: Panmure 1 Henry.
Dam: Barwise 1 Rambling Rosie 2267
“Goldspice was the reserve junior champion at the Irish Hereford society’s national calf show in 2017. He displays excellent phenotypic qualities, with a loin like no other.
“His thickness and depth carry over his top and down through his second thigh.
“His sire Panmure 1 Henry is an exceptional, proven, easy-calving sire who has sired a record-priced son sold at public auction.
“Panmure 1 Henry has also earned the national Hereford sire of the year title.
“Gold Spice carries five-star rankings for terminal and maternal breeding values on the ICBF system, not only within the Hereford breed, but across all breeds, making him one of a kind.”
Coose Jericho
Joined spring 2018
Sire: Kilbride Farm Gernot 15.
Dam: Curaheen Bright Eyes ET
“With a maternal breed, selecting from an outstanding cow family is key.
“Jericho’s dam Curaheen Bright Eyes is from one of the most prolific cow families in Ireland and the Simmental breed worldwide.
“Bright eyes is a cross of Carnkern Titan and the proven Raceview Meryl-Beauty, making her a full sister to the successful AI bull Curaheen Wakeman.
“Curaheen Jericho displays exceptional length and thickness through his top. He is also five stars for terminal and maternal breeding values on the ICBF system.”
Goulding Paddy
Joined spring 2018
Sire: Nightingale Ploughman G386. Dam: Goulding Patriot M531.
“Paddy was selected for his outstanding proven pedigree and his outstanding phenotypic appearance. His dam is from the Patriot family line, with Nightingale Proud Jake and Rawburn Transformer also included in the pedigree.
“Sire Nightingale Ploughman is a proven calving ease bull that brings low birth weights and short gestation. Paddy has four-star maternal and five-star terminal indices in the Angus breed on the ICBF system.”
Elite Lacette
Joined spring 2018
Sire: Ampertaine Foreman.
Dam: Ardlea Gig
“Lacette models all the attributes of a modern-day Limousin, with both five-star maternal and terminal indices. His dam is an exceptional cow that features in the flushing programme at Elite Limousin herd. His sire is the heavily proven bull Ampertaine Forman that combines calving ease and muscle. Lacette has had both maternal and full siblings that have been champions at both area and national shows including Elite Jason ET that was senior male and reserve overall male at the Irish Limouisn congress in 2016. We expect Lacette to produce easy-born calves that display muscle and growth from an early age.”
Coose Gambler
Joined autumn 2016
Sire: Auroch Deuter.
Dam: Fearna Baroness
“Coose Gambler was the Irish National Ploughing Match champion bull 2016. Displaying exceptional thickness throughout, this heterozygous polled bull is sure to leave breeders with progeny that are easily fleshed and display fantastic maternal traits.
“His mother is a consistent breeder of pedigree offspring with an outstanding amount of milk. She is a daughter of the renowned Fearna Regal, which has produced many champions to date.”
Boroside Ironman
Joined autumn 2015
Sire: Lotto VD Vloeikenshoeve.
Dam: Boherard Diamond
“Ironman consistently produces high-quality easily born calves with short gestations. He is the ideal bull for producing market-topping calves due to their early development. This bull is suitable for use on cows in early lactation only.”