In recent years, there has been a growing number of suckler farmers looking to purchase high-quality replacements at specialist breeding sales around the country.
Spotting an opening within his local area for such animals, Martin Tumilty has moved from rearing store cattle to concentrate on selling in-calf heifers over the last five years.
Farming outside the Co Down village of Annaclone, Martin runs 130 acres alongside his father, Charlie, and gets additional help from his 10-year-old son, also called Charlie.
Cereal unit
The farm has traditionally been a cereal unit with a small store cattle herd. Martin’s interest in stock started from a young age, buying Belgian Blue calves and rearing them to finish.
As time passed, his focus gradually shifted towards better-quality stores and within the last five years, this evolved into purchasing the ‘show heifers’ that are now sold in-calf.
Around 80 heifers are currently on-farm, across in-calf and maiden females, with animals marketed via a special sale every October.
This year marks the fourth production sale for the herd with 50 in-calf heifers going under the hammer in Markethill Mart, Co Armagh, on Thursday 24 October.
“This will be our first year offering export-approved heifers and as we source a lot of animals in the Republic of Ireland, it would be great to see some of the heifers heading south again as replacements,” remarks Martin.
Making the change
The change to the breeding replacements started back in 2020. At the time, Martin felt the quality of store heifers on-farm were too good for finishing and worth more sold in-calf.
“There were some exceptional heifers in that batch, so we decided to pull out the best animals on visual appearance and maternal traits. Once separated, the group was bred to AI and we haven’t looked back since.”
Sourcing heifers
Maintaining heifer quality is crucial within the breeding market and, as such, Martin takes responsibility for buying animals to ensure the right heifers are purchased.
Martin Tumilty farms with his father, Charlie and son at Annaclone, Co Down.
“I tend to buy heifers in small groups throughout the year to make sure I am getting the right animals.
“Trying to buy bigger numbers in a short period means that heifer quality will slip and that will be reflected in lower prices from the end market.
“Heifers are bought at special sales, weanling sales and direct from farm. I travel all over Ireland to buy the right animals.
“Limousin, Belgian Blue and Charolais cross heifers are the preferred choice.
“We focus on heifers with good legs, plenty of bone and frame and believe these traits are essential for longevity in breeding.
“Age is also important to us and our heifers typically average 22 months when served at a minimum liveweight of 600kg.”
Every animal receives the best possible management once it arrives on-farm, starting with a one-week isolation period in straw-bedded sheds before joining the herd.
During the isolation period, heifers are treated for internal and external parasites, as well as getting a mineral bolus. Animals are also given a bolus at grass.
Over winter, animals are fed high-quality round bale silage harvested in mid-May and 1kg/day of concentrate.
As Martin operates one sale every October, he puts all heifers on a fixed breeding programme around the second week of February, with all animals served to AI.
Heifers are given another mineral bolus four weeks before target AI date and meal levels are stepped up by 1kg prior to breeding.
A comprehensive health programme is also in place with heifers vaccinated for lepto, BVD, IBR and clostridial diseases such as blackleg.
Scanning
Every heifer is scanned pre-breeding to check they are cycling and what stage of that cycle they are at.
“Heifers are then put on a breeding programme and inseminations are carried out by our technician, Ryan Murphy. We would be lost without him,” says Martin.
“We use proven easy-calving Limousin sires with the double F94L gene such as Loyal, Ewdenvale Ivor, Elderberry Galahad, Powerful Proper, Sliabh Felim Sterling and Birchpark Rufus.
“If heifers repeat, we will serve them again based on natural heats, although in some cases, animals will be put on another programme.”
Breeding success
Given the high level of management heifers receive throughput the year, and particularly in the run-up to breeding, conception to AI is exceptional.
“Last year, we only used sexed semen on our heifers and it was so successful, we have replicated it again this year.
“The scanning results show 90% conception rate with heifer calves using sexed semen, which we are delighted with.”
To allow complete focus on managing heifers through the breeding programme, stress is kept to a minimum and tasks such as slurry, fertiliser, etc, are scheduled to avoid any clash in time management.
Paddock grazing is practised throughout summer to drive weight gain and all heifers will remain at grass right up to the day of sale.
Although this year marks the fourth in-calf heifer sale, the Tumilty family has already built a strong customer base.
Customers from previous sales have already enquired about animals coming forward in the 2024 sale with interest also being expressed by new clients.
“We like to support our customers when possible and will purchase some of the progeny born from animals we have sold, if we think the quality is right.
“A lot of time goes into prepping animals for sale, as well as putting together a catalogue of animals with breeding details, calf sex, calf sire and due date.
“This year, we have animals that are eligible for export and hopefully this will help extend our customer base into the Republic of Ireland.”
There are no immediate plans to increase numbers beyond the 50 heifers currently on sale, nor is there any plan to hold more than one production sale each year.
“Finding the right type of heifer is a challenge and I feel that we are better off focusing on one sale with the best-quality heifers we can produce and that our customers want,” says Martin.
“Over the years, we have learned that the time and effort put into sourcing heifers is worth it when you get positive feedback from customers.”
130 acres farmed.Mix of cereals and grassland.Producing high-quality suckler replacements for sale annually.All heifers are purchased, reared and sold in-calf. Read more
€400/head beef price gulf
Farmers told not to import sheep
In recent years, there has been a growing number of suckler farmers looking to purchase high-quality replacements at specialist breeding sales around the country.
Spotting an opening within his local area for such animals, Martin Tumilty has moved from rearing store cattle to concentrate on selling in-calf heifers over the last five years.
Farming outside the Co Down village of Annaclone, Martin runs 130 acres alongside his father, Charlie, and gets additional help from his 10-year-old son, also called Charlie.
Cereal unit
The farm has traditionally been a cereal unit with a small store cattle herd. Martin’s interest in stock started from a young age, buying Belgian Blue calves and rearing them to finish.
As time passed, his focus gradually shifted towards better-quality stores and within the last five years, this evolved into purchasing the ‘show heifers’ that are now sold in-calf.
Around 80 heifers are currently on-farm, across in-calf and maiden females, with animals marketed via a special sale every October.
This year marks the fourth production sale for the herd with 50 in-calf heifers going under the hammer in Markethill Mart, Co Armagh, on Thursday 24 October.
“This will be our first year offering export-approved heifers and as we source a lot of animals in the Republic of Ireland, it would be great to see some of the heifers heading south again as replacements,” remarks Martin.
Making the change
The change to the breeding replacements started back in 2020. At the time, Martin felt the quality of store heifers on-farm were too good for finishing and worth more sold in-calf.
“There were some exceptional heifers in that batch, so we decided to pull out the best animals on visual appearance and maternal traits. Once separated, the group was bred to AI and we haven’t looked back since.”
Sourcing heifers
Maintaining heifer quality is crucial within the breeding market and, as such, Martin takes responsibility for buying animals to ensure the right heifers are purchased.
Martin Tumilty farms with his father, Charlie and son at Annaclone, Co Down.
“I tend to buy heifers in small groups throughout the year to make sure I am getting the right animals.
“Trying to buy bigger numbers in a short period means that heifer quality will slip and that will be reflected in lower prices from the end market.
“Heifers are bought at special sales, weanling sales and direct from farm. I travel all over Ireland to buy the right animals.
“Limousin, Belgian Blue and Charolais cross heifers are the preferred choice.
“We focus on heifers with good legs, plenty of bone and frame and believe these traits are essential for longevity in breeding.
“Age is also important to us and our heifers typically average 22 months when served at a minimum liveweight of 600kg.”
Every animal receives the best possible management once it arrives on-farm, starting with a one-week isolation period in straw-bedded sheds before joining the herd.
During the isolation period, heifers are treated for internal and external parasites, as well as getting a mineral bolus. Animals are also given a bolus at grass.
Over winter, animals are fed high-quality round bale silage harvested in mid-May and 1kg/day of concentrate.
As Martin operates one sale every October, he puts all heifers on a fixed breeding programme around the second week of February, with all animals served to AI.
Heifers are given another mineral bolus four weeks before target AI date and meal levels are stepped up by 1kg prior to breeding.
A comprehensive health programme is also in place with heifers vaccinated for lepto, BVD, IBR and clostridial diseases such as blackleg.
Scanning
Every heifer is scanned pre-breeding to check they are cycling and what stage of that cycle they are at.
“Heifers are then put on a breeding programme and inseminations are carried out by our technician, Ryan Murphy. We would be lost without him,” says Martin.
“We use proven easy-calving Limousin sires with the double F94L gene such as Loyal, Ewdenvale Ivor, Elderberry Galahad, Powerful Proper, Sliabh Felim Sterling and Birchpark Rufus.
“If heifers repeat, we will serve them again based on natural heats, although in some cases, animals will be put on another programme.”
Breeding success
Given the high level of management heifers receive throughput the year, and particularly in the run-up to breeding, conception to AI is exceptional.
“Last year, we only used sexed semen on our heifers and it was so successful, we have replicated it again this year.
“The scanning results show 90% conception rate with heifer calves using sexed semen, which we are delighted with.”
To allow complete focus on managing heifers through the breeding programme, stress is kept to a minimum and tasks such as slurry, fertiliser, etc, are scheduled to avoid any clash in time management.
Paddock grazing is practised throughout summer to drive weight gain and all heifers will remain at grass right up to the day of sale.
Although this year marks the fourth in-calf heifer sale, the Tumilty family has already built a strong customer base.
Customers from previous sales have already enquired about animals coming forward in the 2024 sale with interest also being expressed by new clients.
“We like to support our customers when possible and will purchase some of the progeny born from animals we have sold, if we think the quality is right.
“A lot of time goes into prepping animals for sale, as well as putting together a catalogue of animals with breeding details, calf sex, calf sire and due date.
“This year, we have animals that are eligible for export and hopefully this will help extend our customer base into the Republic of Ireland.”
There are no immediate plans to increase numbers beyond the 50 heifers currently on sale, nor is there any plan to hold more than one production sale each year.
“Finding the right type of heifer is a challenge and I feel that we are better off focusing on one sale with the best-quality heifers we can produce and that our customers want,” says Martin.
“Over the years, we have learned that the time and effort put into sourcing heifers is worth it when you get positive feedback from customers.”
130 acres farmed.Mix of cereals and grassland.Producing high-quality suckler replacements for sale annually.All heifers are purchased, reared and sold in-calf. Read more
€400/head beef price gulf
Farmers told not to import sheep
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