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Top Price Hereford sells to UK at Tullamore

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Top Price BullSells to World Renowned Haven & Boycefield Hereford herds in the UK

Herefords hit the ground running at the Society’s show and sale at Tullamore on Tuesday last. The huge crowdin attendance one of the largest seen at a Hereford Society sale saw purchasers from across the country and the UK battle it out to secure a suitable bull for their dairy and beef herds. Demand for Hereford cross steers and heifers to fill the Hereford Branded Beef schemes are deemed important factors in driving prices while Hereford cross calf and store cattle prices at the countries marts in recent weeks are also believed to be a factor.

The January 2013 born Corlismore General 700 from the herd of well-known county Cavan breeder Sean McKiernan early in the day caught the eye of visiting buyers James and Edward Lewis, Dilwyn, Hereford, UK. A five star bull for terminal traits, carcass weight, carcass conformation and docility he according to the brothers fits perfectly the current requirements of the world renowned Haven and Boycefield herds which include in excess of 200 breeding females. With a final bid of €5,000 they secured this son of Grianan Firecracker a former National Hereford Supreme Champion and RDS Champion of Champions sired by Churchill Storm V583 and out of a homebred dam Corlismore Violet 526 by the five star sire Corlismore Pompeii. The McKiernan’s also exhibited Corlismore Cormaic 704 again a five star bull by the same sire also born in January 2013 out of Corlismore Pompeii daughter Corlismore Shannon which sold to Tom Roycroft, West Green, Dunmanway, Co Cork at €3,400 to achieve an excellent average of €4,200.

Co Monaghan breeders Sam & Nigel Heatrick had a tremendous outing with bulls from their Glaslough herd. The September born Glaslough Monarch a five star son of herd sire Cill Cormaic Isaacout of Glaslough June sold at €4,300 to Malcolm Johnston, Virginia, Co Cavan while his stable mate the June born Glaslough Levi out of Glaslough Flower a Ballyaville Nelson daughter sold at €4,250 to Ivor Anderson, Corran, Derrylane, Co Cavan. Roger Woods, Ballyvaughan, Co Clare paid €3,600 for Glaslough Mattie sired by Rathregan Napoleon out of Cill Cormaic Playboy daughter Glaslough Jewel to average €4,050 for the three bulls exhibited.

No stranger to success Padraig McGrath, Kye, Elphin, Co Roscommon exhibited three bulls to average €3,350. Breeder of the 2013 National Hereford Champion McGrath was very pleased with the result on the day. His top price bull Kye Sonic 610 sired by new Australian semen import Smithston Darby sold to Leslie Hopkins, Nurney, Co Carlow at €3,700.This July born son of Darby is out of Kye Patty 2nd a daughter of Cloonbracken Performer. Kye Sonic 616 by Steil Gerard sire of Mr McGrath’s Tullamore and National Champion is out of Kye Robin 2nd ET imported originally as an embryo from Canada by the sire Dunrobin 603 87J. He found a new home in Firies, Killarney when sold at €3,500 to Tom Murphy. A third bull Cloonshannagh 1 Storm 624once again by Steil Gerard sold to Norman Richardson, Newtowngore to average €3,350 for the McGrath family.

€4,050 was the final bid by Ger Fitzsimons, Baileboro to secure Ardnagross Barry 2nd from Co Westmeath breeder Thomas Plunkett from Castletown Finea. A son of Trillick Ranger he is out of Ardnagross Rosie by Knockmountagh Nelson. Mr Plunkett also exhibited Ardnagross George by the same sire out of Ardnagross Lucy by Kye Harry 22ndwhich sold to Liam Tierney, Castlepollard to average €3,275 for his two bulls offered.

Other principal prices included well known Offaly breeder Michael Molloy’s Moyclare Lieutenant, son of stock bull Brocca Saviour and Skehanore Henry daughter Moyclare Ursula 4th. He sold at €3,500 to a purchaser who has no wish to be named at this time.

Co Louth breeder Eamon McKiernan exhibited Knockmantagh 1 Hustler and sold toEddie Mulcahy, Doon, Co Limerick when the hammer dropped at €3,200. This Gouldingpoll 1 Captain son is out of Trillick Joy and a Knockmountagh Cosmo daughter.

Drumgoon Hill Hercules a son of successful Dovea AI bull Kilsunny Goliath and out of Bowmont Storm A584 daughter Drumgoon Hill Eve sold at €3,000. Exhibited by Aidan McCabe, Cootehill, he sold to Michael Lynch, Ballinalee, Co Longford.

Breeders were very happy with the outcome. It was clear that this early in the season purchasers were out to buy a stronger more mature bull. A small number of younger bulls towards the end of the sale failed to reach their reserve while a number of potential purchasers went home without a bull. The overall average at €3,110 was back on last year’s €3,400 at the same venue while the number entered for the event this year was 61 as compared with last year’s 35, an increase of 75%. An unusually high top price of €7,100 last year also influenced the average.Clearance at the event was 61.5% with a range of €1,950 to €5,000.

The Society has upcoming sales at Bandon on Wednesday April 2nd and Nenagh on Saturday April 19th.

News, Society, Uncategorized

HEREFORD BEEF – IRELAND’S FASTEST GROWING MEAT BRAND!

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Ireland’s fastest growing meat bralidllogo1nd since its launch has been the“DELUXE” Irish Hereford Range at German supermarket group Lidl. Such has been the demand for the product aged for 14 days on the bone and a further 14 days for extra maturity giving a total of 28 days that it has caught the attention of Lidl Europe. Given the extraordinary growth in demand for this addition to the “Deluxe” range which has exceeded even the most optimistic estimates for a new product launch, supply has been a consistent challenge.

The market has sufficient capacity to absorb even greater numbers of cattle each week with the possibility if supply can be upped the brand can further develop outside Ireland. Irish Hereford beef clearly marked as such now has a shelf presence in 172 Lidl stores across Ireland a visibility that could only be dreamed of a short number of years ago. Lidl have also made determined efforts to aggressively market the product as they know from their own stringent taste testing and customer feedback that this is a product of outstanding quality. Slaney Foods and sister company the Linden Group in Northern Ireland must be commended on their production, packaging and distribution of the product and their dedication to excellence right along the food chain. In their efforts to raise standards further and raise awareness of quality beef Slaney Foods recently held the €6,000 Slaney Foods Quality Steak Competition which attracted an entry of about 1,000 steers and heifers that met the specifications for their brands.

Journalist John Shirley takes up the story “All 1,000 carcases were given the meticulous standard Slaney treatment to enhance eating quality with three carcases from each category selected for the steak tasting test. In the delightful company of Mary Lacey, captain of the three-in-a-row Wexford All-Ireland camogie team, and Bill Kelly, owner and manager of Kelly’s Hotel in Rosslare, I sampled rib-eye steaks from the nine selected carcases. The carcases were identified by a number. The owners/breeders were not identified until after the tasting. The steaks were assessed and ranked for tenderness, flavour and overall eating experience. The top Hereford steak came from a 26-month-old steer, grading O+4-, which had a carcase weight of 322.4kg. The supplier was dairy farmer Noel Maher, from Ballinleenty, Co Tipperary. Interestingly, beef eating quality is not linked to carcase shape. The Lidl Deluxe Irish Hereford Range, supplied from Slaney, has done really well and is largely based on Herefords from the dairy herd. Slaney Foods’ Slaney Valley brand, which is aimed at the catering and restaurant sector across Europe, is also growing nicely, according to Mr Fanning. He said it is vital that they always deliver consistent product to customers.”

The Secretary of the Irish Hereford Society Larry Feeney speaking at the event congratulated Noel Maher winner of the Supreme Hereford award and also Hereford winners Gillian & David Hendy, Riverstown, Kildangan, Monasterevin and James Kelliher, Ballybrood, Caherline, Limerick on behalf of the Society. The achievement of these farmers was he stated typical of the top class standard of excellence aimed at and reached by producers involved in the Slaney/Lidl/Hereford project.   Cattle wanted weekly Phone Eamon @ 087/6779567 or John @ 087/2695119

News, Society, Uncategorized

HEREFORD LAUNCH AT LIDL

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Official April 2014 Lidl-Logo_4C_OLAugust 2012 saw the launch of Irish Hereford Beef as part of the “Deluxe” range of products at Lidl the major German owned supermarket chain with 134 outlets nationwide and the growth in demand has been phenomenal. Such was the success of the product that LIDL in December 2012 launched Northern Irish Hereford beef across its 36 stores there supplied through Linden Foods, Dungannon sister company to Slaney Foods, Bunclody, Co Wexford.

slaney foods

Initially the product range included fillet, striploin and ribeye steak matured on the bone for 14 days and further matured until 28 days for extra tenderness and flavour.  A low fat mince, tender sizzling burgers, and diced beef have since been added to the range.

The Premium Irish Hereford beef is processed by Slaney Foods, Bunclody, Co Wexford part of the Linden Food Group to supply the demanding specifications of Lidl for its “Deluxe” product range with the support of the Irish Hereford Breed Society Ltd. Suppliers to Slaney are dedicated cattle producers that are Bord Bia quality assured and produce natural beef of the highest quality.

Lidl has mounted an aggressive marketing campaign in promoting the product through its “In Store Leaflet” and through its “Choose a Taste of Home” promotional brochure including a Paul Flynn recipe for Irish Hereford fillet steak.

This is a very significant outlet for Hereford beef and for producers of Hereford and Hereford cross stock providing a very substantial Premium for quality assured producers.

A continuous 52 week supply is required by Slaney Foods to service all of the Lidl stores across the country.

For a Quotation and details regarding specification booking etc. before sale Producers should immediately contact:

Eamonn Moulds (Slaney) at 087-6779567 or John McDonald (Slaney) 087- 2695119

Ireland’s fastest growing meat brand since its launch has been the“DELUXE” Irish Hereford Range at German supermarket group Lidl. Such has been the demand for the product aged for 14 days on the bone and a further 14 days for extra maturity giving a total of 28 days that it has caught the attention of Lidl Europe. Given the extraordinary growth in demand for this addition to the “Deluxe” range which has exceeded even the most optimistic estimates for a new product launch, supply has been a consistent challenge.