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Although only breeding for just over 20 years, the Curaheen herd in Newcastle, Co Dublin, is synonymous with the Simmental breed. Originally started by the late David Wall, who sadly passed away earlier this year, the herd has enjoyed remarkable success.
Much of this was down to the dedication and time that David gave to the herd before his passing.
With the select purchase of heifers in the early 1990s, the three foundation females of the herd were Lowland Sandy, Lowland Velvetine and Corah Alexis.
From the onset, these animals, as well as some of the newer additions along the way, have gone through the strictest policy of retaining only very high-quality females within the herd, which resulted in an unparalleled culling rate.
This was facilitated by a never-ending flushing and embryo transfer programme, meaning the Curaheen, and more recently the Auroch herd, which was established by sons James and David Jnr, stand as some of the best herds in the country.
Sales
The herd’s relatively short existence saw it set numerous records. The Curaheen and Auroch herds hold the record price attained at the society premier sales at Roscommon for both bulls and heifers.
Curaheen Tyson was the first to set the bull record when sold at eight months of age in 2006 for €20,000. The herd went very close to matching this when Curaheen Whiskey and Curaheen Drifter were sold for €17,500 and €18,500 respectively.
In the females, Auroch Banshee holds the female society premier sale record when sold in 2011 for €17,000, while the male record price at the society sales at Tullamore stands with Auroch Ace, who sold in 2009 for €11,000.
The Curaheen and Auroch herds have also contributed greatly to the improvement in the national herd through the purchase of many of their bulls by AI organisations.
Bulls that come to mind here are Curaheen Bossman, Curaheen Earp, Curaheen Apostle, Curaheen Dickens and Auroch Deuter PP, while semen from the likes of Curaheen Tyson, Curaheen Vio, Curaheen Wakeman, Auroch Ace and Curaheen Coichise P has also been available to pedigree breeders and has had a very positive impact on the breed.
A large number of bulls have also gone on to become very successful pedigree stock bulls, both here in Ireland and across the water in the UK.
This is clearly evident in the fact that progeny from these bulls has been crowned senior and junior bull champions at the renowned Perth / Sterling bull sales in Scotland, while the Islavale Herd exhibited the supreme bull champion in 2012, Islavale Brilliant, sired by Curaheen Vobster, selling for £18,000.
Showing
The Walls are also strong advocates of showing, particularly younger stock, which has had notable success at national level.
Two occasions come to mind – at the national calf finals at Strokestown Show in 2006, when the herd captured both the bull and heifer championships with flush mates Curaheen Tyson and Curaheen Tammi; and in 2008, when the Curaheen herd had first, second and third places in the bull calf championship, with Curaheen Wutang, Wakeman and Warrior. They also won the heifer calf championship at that event with Curaheen Washita.
Many of the animals David sold went on to achieve great show success, most notably Auroch Eve, who was crowned overall supreme champion at the prestigious Royal Highland Show on two consecutive years in 2015 and again this year.
Dispersal
This Saturday sees the herd’s biggest day out of all, when all Curaheen animals will go under the hammer at Tullamore Mart. The sale comprises 80 lots, made up of all the lines which have made the herd the success story it has been over the last 20 years, including proven dams of top-price or stud bulls.
The sale also consists of one of the biggest selection of polled stock ever to go up for sale in the Simmental breed, as David became one of the pioneers of polled Simmental breeding in Ireland over the last number of years.
It is with great sadness for the family that a day such as this is going ahead without David as the driving force. They hope to see the females go to places where his name will live on forever through generations of quality stock.
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