Wicklow Cattle Company’s fast, reliable and efficient service has left them with a long list of satisfied customers.
The Scallan family-run Wicklow Cattle Company has been successfully trading for over 40 years and boasts an experience which is second to none when it comes to exporting weanlings and calves to the UK, Holland, Spain and Italy.
Managing Director Seamus Scallan is carrying on a proud family tradition and is the fifth generation of his family to run the business.
“I would view myself more as a businessman than a dealer,” Seamus outlined to Irish Tractor & Agri magazine. “We don’t buy from the market system. There’s nothing wrong with it, but to ensure fresh stock, I buy direct off the farm. We also have our own calf rearing facilities and have the biggest available selection of baby calves in Ireland.
“We’ve been full-time trading for the last 40 years and incorporated as a company for last 20 years. We started the export side of the business around the same time. I’m the fifth generation of Scallans in this business, my father Nicholas died when I was 12.”
Under Seamus’ watch, Wicklow Cattle Company offer a service to farmers who wish to sell their calves whereby a weekly pick up can be arranged and top prices paid on the day. Calves are bought either off farm from their experienced calf agents or through their large network of collection centres throughout Ireland.
Calves are collected and brought to their yard in Wicklow where they are batched according to weight and quality causing minimum stress for the calves. The Department of Agriculture process the calves making sure that all animals are healthy and strong enough to travel.
Calves over 14 days and under 42 days can only be exported so if your calves are over this age contact your agent. The calves are then fed and loaded onto a EU approved lorry and set on journey.
“Our home trade is extremely important to us; we source and supply all breeds of livestock throughout Ireland,” Seamus added. “95% of animals our bought off farm and brought to our lairage facility on the evening of pick up. This is where they are sorted into even batches.”
Seamus and his seven strong staff pride themselves on the welfare of animals and buy most of their stock directly from farms all over Ireland. They are collected the night before by experienced livestock handlers and either sold to Irish farmers or exported the next day from their approved export Lairage Centre.
Located 8km from the N11, one hour to Rosslare and Dublin ports, their EU licenced lairage is of exceptionally high standard both in relation to animal welfare and hygiene.
“We can deal with high or low volumes of livestock (cattle, sheep, pigs) whether you are exporting them to UK or mainland Europe or sending your animals to slaughter. We can arrange your paper work and make sure the process goes as smoothly as possible.
“Health and quality are equally important to us. Farm to farm calves can be arranged. We look after all the paperwork and our aftercare service is second to none – if farmers would like us to visit their farm and offer advice and services regarding their calves or weanlings we are on hand any time.”
Another string to the Wicklow Cattle Company bow is the wide range of calf rearing products and feeding equipment they stock.
And, in an exciting new development for all concerned, back in April they launched their new brand of milk powder which is specially designed to the get the best from your calves from day one.
They have selected their ingredients with knowledge of what calves need and want and have the results to back up their product.
Ireland’s strict regulations surrounding the transport of livestock are cause for concern for Seamus but, looking ahead, he is optimistic about what the future holds in store.
“We are happy with how things are going at the moment but another thing we would be nervous about about is the price being paid by factories. If the farmer is no making money he won’t come back next year. The export business is more promising,” he concluded.
Wicklow Cattle Company
Killahurler
Mooreshill
Arklow
Co. Wicklow
Office: +353 (0) 402 35257
Fax: +353 (0) 402 35649
Seamus Scallan: +353 (0) 87 2547339
David Scallan: +353 (0) 87 9608782
E: wicklowcattlecompany@eircom.
Wicklow Calf Rearing Products
Office: +353 (0) 402 35257
Fax: +353 (0) 402 35649
Elizabeth Scallan: +353 (0)
87 2060222
David Scallan: +353 (0) 87 9608782
Seamus Scallan: +353 (0) 87 2547339
Email: [email protected]
Paddy Fitzgerald (Galway &
Mayo Agent): +353 (0) 87 2704674
Taken from Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 3 No 6, July 2015
Wicklow Calf Rearing Products, Wicklow Cattle Company
