In this article, Catherina Cunnane summarises some of the main headlines on That’s Farming – www.thatsfarming.com this week, including the €16,200 Clare-bred Nebraska settling into his new home in Scotland, beef imports into Ireland, €156/farmer ACRES training courses, a €5,550 Dutch Spotted ewe lamb and a bull attack in Co Cork.
€16,200 Clare-bred Simmental bull in Scotland
The €16,200 Coose Nebraska P “took his first taste of Scottish grass” last week after being acquired by the renowned Auchorachan Simmental herd from a Clare-based farm earlier this spring.
The bull, bred by John Tuohny, Whitegate, Co Clare, headlined the Irish Simmental Cattle Society’s premier show and sale in Roscommon Mart on Saturday, March 25th, 2023, and was tapped out as John Hazelton’s (judge) senior champion of choice.
This August 2021-born bull, which was lot number 2 on the day, is out of a homebred sire, Coose Lincoln ET, who was sold privately to the famed Islavale Simmental herd and has already bred calves to 6,500gns, and a homebred, Curaheen Evolution P dam, Coose Lauren P.
M & R Durno & Sons from Banffshire, Scotland, purchased the then 19-month-old Simmental bull via LSL Auctions’ online platform.
Michael says that “he ticks all the boxes and has a great pedigree”.
“Plus, he has the added advantage in the fact that he is heterozygous polled.”
Read more on this news story.
Ireland imported over 51t of beef (49% increase) in 2022
The most recent full-year data from the CSO indicates that Ireland imported 51,665 tonnes of beef in 2022, up 16,994 tonnes or 49% on the previous year.
The nation imported the following from 2018-2021 inclusive:
- 2021 – 34,671t;
- 2020 – 29,921t;
- 2019 – 30,213t;
- 2018 – 34,437.
The matter was recently raised by Mayo’s deputy Alan Dillon, who asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, to confirm the exact quantity of imported beef that has entered the Irish market in recent years.
The minister said “the nature of all commodity markets is that prices fluctuate and international trade flows are a two-way process”.
“As the Irish beef sector is highly export-oriented, its success is dependent on the maintenance of an open, rules-based multilateral trading system.”
Read more on this news story.
€156/farmer ACRES training courses to begin
The Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (DAFM) has launched its ACRES Training Scheme, which will provide specialist training to farmers in the €1.5 billion flagship agri-environment scheme.
The purpose of this ATS is to increase farmer knowledge on the way in which ACRES actions are to implemented.
When approved, ACRES trainers will be able to commence holding courses for ACRES participants “by the end of this month”, the DAFM has confirmed to this publication.
Reimbursement per attendee shall be in the amount of €156, while the ACRES trainer payment shall be €90 per DAFM-validated attendee.
Read article on That’s Farming: Up to €2,700/course for ACRES course
€5,550 Dutch Spotted ewe lamb
A Donegal-based pedigree Dutch Spotted breeder has set what is understood to be a new breed price record in the Republic of Ireland with a ewe lamb.
Lot 25, Mc Dermott’s Gigi ET, from the flock of Kevin McDermott, Gleneely, sold for €5,550 at the second Spring Superstars Sheep Sale at Ballybofey and Stranorlar Co-op Livestock Mart on Saturday, June 3rd, 2023.
Gigi, according to McDermott, is “the most heavily muscled female offered for sale from the flock to date”.
“She is a flashy, young lamb with a great skin, carcass, loin and end,” he remarked.
Read more.
Bull attack in Cork
A Cork-based third-generation farmer has reminded the public to “never trust a bull” after falling victim to an attack on Monday morning last, June 5th, 2023.
Peter Twomey of Glenbrook Farm, who previously appeared on That’s Farming, has taken to his social media platforms to issue a word of warning to the farming community.
The dairy and pig farmer explained: “On Monday morning, I suffered an attack from a bull. I am very lucky. I just walked past the bull, and he just went straight for me.”
“But, there was no warning or anything. I would say that the heat might be an issue and the fact that a lot of cows are in-calve.”
“I just want to put a warning out there to everyone just to not trust a bull.”
“Children will be on holidays soon; please keep them away from cows where there is a bull.”
Read more on this bull attack.
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