G€N€ IR€LAND Maternal Bull Breeder Participant’s, TJ Rea & Michael Clifford with the best breeding pedigree Hereford cow in the herd ‘Sandymount Bell’.

 Backround of the herd: The ‘Caherdrinna’ pedigree Hereford herd was established in 2006 through the purchase of 4 heifers from the ‘Sandymount’ herd of Robert Stanley, Graigue, Drom, Templemore, Co.Tipperary.

 Maternal Breeding: The herd has an overall replacement index of €82 (24% reliable), making it a 5 star herd and placing it in the top 10% of Hereford herds in Ireland.

 Top Maternal Cows: The highest rated cow for the replacement index is also the top breeding cow in the herd. Her name is ‘Sandymount Bell’, bred by Robert Stanley, Drom, Co.Tipperary, she is sired by ‘Sandymount Turley’ and is out of a ‘Farney Jerry’ cow. She has a replacement index value of €117 (25% reliable). This gives her 5 stars and places her in the top 10% of the breed for this trait. She has had 4 great bull calves one year after another, and her last calving interval was 343 days.

 Key traits of interest: Calving Ease, growth and milk.

 Recent Sires used: GSQ (Glaslough Esquire), ERV (Ervie Classic S30) & Caherdrinna King (Meiltron Leisure sired Stockbull).

 Breeder’s comment: “The dairy farmers that purchase bulls from me need a guaranteed easy calving bull. If I lose sight of that trait in my sire selection decisions I can’t expect those Dairy farmers to keep coming back for more – its that simple. Although milk & fertility is one of the hallmarks of the Hereford breed, one can never become complacent and so joining the Gene Ireland scheme, will hopefully help me to keep these traits in mind when it comes to making my breeding decisions ”.

Sandymount Bell (Sandymount Turley x Farney Jerry)
Sandymount Bell (Sandymount Turley x Farney Jerry)
Caherdrinna King 5th
Caherdrinna King 5th (Caherdrinna King out of Sandymount Bell).
Sandymount Zara (Sandymount Turley x CH Visa 3223 57x)
Sandymount Zara (Sandymount Turley x CH Visa 3223 57x)