With farm profit harder to achieve each year it is becoming vital that farmers become aware of any opportunity to increase their income. Limousin cattle can definitely play a role in achieving increased profitability in all livestock sectors.
Four breeds dominate the Irish market in terms of popularity – Charolais, Limousin, Simmental and Angus.
With the growing usage of artificial insemination, access to the genetic stock of top bulls is widely available to farmers.
Pedigree cattle are a good investment. In general, pedigree cattle deliver far better returns than commercial animals.
Many farmers get into pedigree farming as a hobby and on a small scale, but the benefits have soon made them realise they can make a living in this area.
One far that has gone that route is Wexford based Trevor Masterson who along with his father Billy purchased two maiden heifers back in 1994.
Since then, from their farm in Ballyhogue, just outside Enniscorthy, the Galbally Limousine herd has gone from strength to strength.
Trevor revealed to Irish Tractor & Agri that it is possible to make a living from breeding cattle, although he stressed that it takes a lot of hard work and a great deal of luck to survive.
“It is possible to make money having pedigree cattle otherwise I don’t think so many would be breeding them,” said Trevor.
However, he says most breeders see having pedigree cattle as delivering more than just financial returns but also returns in terms of the enjoyment of breeding them.
“This is not a quick-money business, but returns are increasing and there is a sense of pride breeding such fine animals.
“It all started out as a hobby but it has now grown to be our main farming enterprise. The herd has since expanded to its present level of almost 100 pedigree breeding females, with purchases along the way from the Millknock, Ballydaniel and Luttrellstown herds.
“There had always been a tradition of cattle breeding here on the farm, having for a large number of years been heavily involved in “Commercial Fatstock Showing”.
“The aim of our breeding policy is to produce heavily muscled bulls with excellent temperament that are capable of achieving high growth rates alongside females with both size and quality.”
Trevor stated that the pre-dominantly use AI to inseminate the cattle as they feel that they can breed a better animal this way.
“We believe that we are breeding success by prudent choice of stock sires and careful selection of A.I. sires used. Strong usage of French A.I. has formed the nucleus of some strong breeding lines. Influential A.I. sires used in the herd include Mereside Crackerjack, Dauphin, Ferry, Ideal 23, Ibis (byVainquer838), Genial, and Highlander.
Over the years, the calf crop includes progeny from Mozart, Lino, Imperial, Ferry, Nexen, Grahams Samson and Domino.
Considerable emphasis in their development has been laid upon docility with several females culled in the early stages to eradicate the problem.
For the Mastersons, the commercial farmer is their customer base and they aim to provide them with the service that reaches the highest possible standard
“To assist our potential purchasers full B.L.U.P. records are available on all our cattle. The commercial farmer is our bread and butter. Our aim is to satisfy them and we would have a lot of repeat custom where farmers would come here to buy their bulls, heifers and calves.
“If we feel that a bull won’t be any good, then it is slaughtered, we won’t sell it on. Our reputation is at stake, so it is in our best interest to sell nothing but the best.”
The Galbally name now precedes itself and farmers know they are buying the best. Although most of their stock is sold from their farm, they do use sales in Roscrea and Kilkenny.
“We’ve been lucky with our sales over the years; we’ve sold bulls for up to €8,000 on occasion. Farming in Ireland is moving on and farmers are looking at ways to get the best from their stock.
“There is a genomics scheme in place and it’s making farmers aware of what’s needed to get the maximum potential from their herd and Ireland have the ability to develop this.”
When buying a stock bull, Trevor revealed that there is much more than just the bloodline to be looked at.
“If we’re buying a stock bull, well obviously it’s bloodlines, but if we’re walking through at a sale, the first thing is correctness, breed character and just the quality of the bull like easy fleshing, legs and feet.
“Our cattle have good figures, but it’s because we’ve bought good bulls that have done well. Most stock bulls we have bought had average figures to start with, but you must still have faith in yourself as a judge of stock when picking a bull.”
Trevor admits that farming can be very topsy turvy and he feels that breeding is a key area for the future.
“Farming is struggling in certain areas, beef is not great at the moment and suckling is gone. Getting rid of the milk quota has certainly helped and the market is certainly there at the moment.”
Contact Details:
Galbally Limousin Herd
Ballyhogue,
Enniscorthy,
Co Wexford.
Taken from Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 5 No 3, April/May 2017
