Throughout the years it has produced some of the country’s top Simmental bulls and is set for a full clearance Saturday 28 September at Tullamore Mart.

Paudge originally had a full dispersal sale in 2008 and ceased breeding for a number of years due to ill health. The sale was an outstanding success, topping at €10,000 with a full clearance and sale average of €4,000.

Following improvements in health, Paudge restarted and had what he calls a “second coming”. However, ill health has returned, leaving no other option than dispersing the new herd he formed from purchasing top females at premier sales and indeed implanting embryos from his earlier years’ bloodlines.

Paudge said: “Since I commenced the Hillcrest herd in the 1980s, my total emphasis was on beef Simmental rather than dual-purpose – conformation, growth and visual assessment were my main objectives in purchasing and breeding all along. Let’s not forget the most important ingredient of all – bloodlines, bloodlines, bloodlines.”

This is particularly relevant in the cow Camus Solitaire, which much of the initial bloodlines go back to. This cow was purchased by Paudge and bred bulls still found in the country’s best herds. Her sons Hillcrest Champion, Jerome, Naughty and Butcher all left a lasting legacy. Going through the catalogue for next week’s sale, it’s clear Paudge was keen to reintroduce this once-in-a-lifetime cow with many of the pedigrees featuring her name. In many cases this is through Paudge’s favourite bull Hillcrest Champion who he said was “a real treasure and remained in the herd for his lifetime”. Paudge says he bred outstanding cattle when on the farm and even to this day his progeny are show winners on the circuit.

The most recent stock bull to grace the Hillcrest herd was Clonagh Just a Dream. This bull was purchased at the society premier sale back in March 2018 where he stood as junior bull champion and sold for the top price of €12,500. Many of the youngstock in the sale are sired by him and also many of the cows sell in calf to him.

Paudge said: “‘Breeding preferred to feeding’ was always my slogan and allow the young to grow naturally on good grass. The sale gives new breeders and potential buyers an opportunity to purchase well-bred and decent quality cattle that are not halter-trained, show groomed or indeed manicured. You can view their faults, warts and all when not camouflaged with excessive meals.”

The sale has a total of 37 lots on offer, including cows with calves at foot, young stock and the senior stock bull.