Joe and Noel Keating strive to produce E grade Limousin and Belgian-Blue weanlings for the Italian market.
The father-and-son-duo from Kilrush, Co. Clare feature in Dovea Genetics’ most recent suckler farming video series.
Fifty of their cows calve from January to March, while twenty are farmed as part of an autumn-calving system.
The majority of their breeding females are ¾-bred or pedigree non-registered Limousins with up to ten Belgian Blue-cross-Limousin cows dominating the pastures.
Sires used on the 70-cow suckler farm include WBH; BB4399; S1241 and EBY.
“It is very easy to see that the calves are exceptional quality from cows with blue blood, but you are running a higher risk of running into calving difficulty using blue back on them.” explained John Lynch of Dovea Genetics.
Main image and video source: Dovea Genetics / Youtube
