The Tullamaine herd, established in 2013 by local breeder Andrew Byrne, based its foundations on the best of French-bred stock. On his first trip to France, he came back with 44 animals, which were then accompanied by a further 24 lots of Irish-bred stock the same year.

Having switched from a dairy farm, Andrew finds the sucklers a lot easier.

“I got into the Salers because of the easy calving. I’ve never had to assist a calving since I got into them. I love them. They’re a hobby compared with the milking cows.”

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Since the outset, top bloodlines were secured, including Paris champions and highly regarded females on the French system.

“I bought two notable purchases from one farm, Ecume and Edmond. The then-owner was crossing these two and getting good results. So I bought the two and started doing the same.

“Edmond was out of the then-third-best ranked cow in France, so I used him on most of the herd too and he bred very nice cattle.

“Ecume came in calf to Gerbier and calved down Tullamaine Nashville. We kept him as a stock bull for ourselves.

“Ecume’s calf at foot by Edmond when we purchased her was called Hasntise. She was one of our most successful show animals, picking up the championship at Athlone Show. A full brother to that heifer, Tullamaine Robin, we kept as a stock bull and he will be offered for sale.

“I brought in the cow Beguine from France as well. She was awarded the interbreed championship at the Simagena Paris Show in 2011 and her first son Tullamine Ozzy was kept as a junior stock bull also.”

Altogether, the herd will offer five prized bulls at the sale. However, a total of 90 lots will be sold on the day, made up of cows, in-calf and maiden heifers. The majority of cows will be sold with calves at foot, with 50% of the herd autumn-calving and 50% spring-calving.

With the Salers breed on the higher end of the €uro-Star rankings, the Tullamaine herd is laced with stars.

“All our cows are five stars, bar one who’s four stars. Coincidently, she ranks higher than a lot of the other cows on the French system. The cow herd has an average replacement index of €154, with the national average at only €78. In the young heifers, the herd average is €165, which is double the national average. Even the bottom 10% of our herd stand at €110, while our highest go as high as €242.”

The entire Tullamaine herd goes under the hammer on Thursday 24 May in Cillin Hill Mart, Co Kilkenny, with all animals present being export tested.

For further details, contact Andrew Bryne on 086-810 0360.