A standout young Aberdeen Angus heifer from the renowned Liss Herd in Co. Meath, Liss Mirti B492 combines elite genetics, exceptional breed character and top-tier ICBF figures to secure the highest honour at the 2026 National Ploughing Championships.
A Legacy of Aberdeen Angus Excellence
The Liss Aberdeen Angus Herd is nestled in the hills of North Meath beneath the historic Loughcrew Cairns. The farm was purchased by John McEnroe on 6 November 1924, with the Liss Herd formally established in 1953 by Batty McEnroe when he purchased his first Aberdeen Angus heifer, Diana of Lakeview, from his uncle Bernard McEnroe of Lakeview, Co. Cavan.
That purchase sparked a lifelong passion for Aberdeen Angus cattle and laid the foundations for a breeding programme that has now spanned more than 70 years.
Today, the McEnroe family continues to breed moderate-framed, functional Angus cattle with a strong focus on breed character, conformation and long-term performance. Rather than chasing extremes, the herd’s breeding strategy centres on producing practical cattle that deliver for commercial and pedigree customers alike.
Breeding Functional Females for the Future
The female line remains at the heart of the breeding programme. The McEnroe family places significant emphasis on developing functional cows that are fertile, milky, docile and capable of consistently producing high-quality progeny. These traits are viewed as fundamental to maintaining a sustainable and profitable breeding system.
The family’s objective is to combine visual excellence with strong genetic merit, while also providing valuable outcross genetics for other pedigree herds.
Liss Mirti B492
Liss Mirti B492 (tag 372222377112492) is among the first progeny shown from the herd’s newer stock bull, Baronagh Prince George Y384, an outcross sire imported from Northern Ireland.
According to the McEnroe family, Prince George is already leaving a strong stamp on his offspring through their breed character, functionality and conformation, qualities clearly demonstrated by Mirti B492.
As her name suggests, she descends from the renowned Mirti cow family. Her dam, Mirti V902, is a daughter of the homebred herd sire Liss Darl R561. In addition to her impressive pedigree, Mirti B492 is exceptionally docile and enjoys the show ring, allowing her to display her natural style and quality to full effect.
The McEnroes are looking forward to selling the first sons of Baronagh Prince George Y384, which will headline the Liss Select Sires Bull Sale timed auction taking place from 19 to 22 March 2027.
Combining Show-Ring Success with Elite Genetics
Pedigree breeding is a complex balancing act. Breeders strive to produce cattle that combine visual appeal, strong performance figures and genetic diversity.
For the McEnroe family, Liss Mirti B492 represents that balance.
With a Replacement Index of €211, she ranks among the Top 1% of cattle across all breeds. She also boasts a Carcass Weight PTA of +18.1kg, significantly ahead of the Aberdeen Angus breed average of +8.25kg, placing her within the Top 4% of the breed.
A key contributor to these outstanding figures is the herd’s long-standing participation in ICBF’s Whole Herd Performance Recording (WHPR) programme. Since the programme’s inception, the McEnroes have recorded independent performance data by weighing their pedigree animals under one year of age annually with an ICBF technician.
This valuable performance information improves the accuracy of genetic evaluations and helps identify the cattle with the greatest breeding potential.
Supreme All-Ireland Champion at the 2026 Ploughing Championships
Liss Mirti B492 enjoyed a remarkable run of success at the 2026 National Ploughing Championships.
She first claimed victory in the highly competitive Autumn 2025-born heifer class before being awarded Junior Champion. Her success continued when she was named Supreme All-Ireland Champion, an achievement that surprised many, given that junior champions do not often go on to secure the supreme title.
For the McEnroe family, winning the All-Ireland Championship represented the pinnacle of achievement within the Irish Aberdeen Angus breed.
The victory marked the first time since 2019 that the Liss Herd claimed the title, when stock bull Mogeely Dreamer T534 secured the honour. Prior to that, the herd’s previous Supreme Champion was Liss Myrlo in 1999.
Long-Term Breeding Remains the Priority
Despite her show-ring success, the McEnroes remain firmly focused on breeding rather than showing.
While exhibiting cattle plays an important role in promoting the herd, they believe excessive preparation and feeding can negatively impact the long-term breeding performance of cattle.
Their philosophy is simple: long-term breeding success, not show-ring success, is what ultimately sustains the business.
What’s Next for Liss Mirti B492?
Following her championship success, Liss Mirti B492 will return to life as a normal member of the herd.
Weather permitting, she is expected to spend the coming months at grass before being housed for the winter. At around 14 months of age, she and her contemporaries will join junior herd sire Pubblestown Lord Jethro B604, with the group expected to calve for the first time at approximately 24 months of age.
In the short term, Mirti B492 will primarily be bred to stock bulls. As her breeding career develops, the McEnroe family may consider using carefully selected outcross AI sires to introduce additional genetic diversity.
Should she prove herself as a prolific breeding cow, they may also flush her to secure her genetics for the future of the Liss Herd and potentially for customers interested in purchasing embryos.