Breeding pedigree Limousin cattle under the Carrowreagh prefix since 1988, Pat Bruen is one of Ireland’s most-established pedigree Limousin breeders. Situated outside Elphin in Co Roscommon, the Carrowreagh herd comprises of 25 pedigree Limousin cows, which run across 100 acres of owned land.

Like the majority of pedigree herds in Ireland, farming in the west of Ireland is not always plain sailing. From short summers to long winters and marginal land type, it’s more the love and passion for pedigree breeding that has kept Pat driving on for almost 40 years.

In that time, he has had to adapt to many changes, all of which has increased his wealth of knowledge of the Limousin breed.

History

For almost 30 years, Pat worked off-farm in a meat factory in Rooskey, Co Roscommon. However, in 2002 the factory burned down, since then, he has been farming full-time.

“I was line manager there for almost 20 years, we had a great team of 50 skilled workers, all good friends. The fire changed lives, but none were lost,” Pat recalls.

The herd was first established with the purchase of two pedigree Limousin heifers from Ernie Foster in Ballinagh, Co Cavan. For the next 10 years, Pat used the best Limousin bulls in AI, but felt he was not getting the results he desired.

In 1999, he travelled to France with his good friend and fellow breeder John McDermott, where they linked up with Seamus Cody and Martin McCullagh, two highly regarded cattle men in the Limousin breed at the time.

It was on this trip Pat purchased three breeding females which would form the foundation of the herd today.

Pat recalls: “The three heifers were Ozone, Osphine and Nina. Ozone’s first two bull calves sold for €4,000 and €5,000. That was great money back then. Osphine then bred Carrowreagh Honduras, which was purchased by Progressive Genetics.”

Since then, Carrowreagh bulls have sold all over Ireland, the UK and Greece. In 2020, Carrowreagh Pablo was purchased by Dovea Genetics, in association with the Irish Limousin Cattle Society, for its short gestation programme.

Breeding females

It is fair to say the Carrowreagh herd is run on a commercial basis, with the fundamentals of a breeding female being paramount.

“I like my females to be feminine with good legs and a sweet head. We need to remember who are customers are, they’re commercial farmers. Milk, fertility, calving ability, longevity and functionality are the main traits I look for in my females.”

There is no room for muscly, show-type heifers in Pat’s operation.

“In my opinion, these double Q204X and NT821 heifers are destroying the breed. Limousin are renowned as suckler cows and replacement females for their exceptional maternal attributes; we need to protect these traits.”

AI influence

Since its foundation, the herd has always been 100% AI.

“I select bulls which I feel will improve what I have already. Some of the bulls which have worked well for me in the past are Sympa, Ronick Hawk, On-Dit and Cloughhead Lord. In more recent years, I used Bavardage, Bel-Orient, Nebbiolo and Malijai. I have some great daughters of these calved down to bulls such as Telfers Munster, Whinfellpark Lomu and Knock M-Sport. For my heifers, I use Ampertaine Metric, Tomschoice Lexicon and Loyal.”

Pat has great belief in the bulls which come through the French Moussours maternal test programme.

“I find these bulls to be very reliable; they have always worked well for me and leave great breeding type cows.”

Bull sales

Every year, Pat sells about 13-14 pedigree bulls for breeding, many of which are sold at Society sales. A small number of heifers are retained within the herd, with the remainder sold on for breeding. In December 2025, two Carrowreagh bulls sold for an average of €8,000 at the Society’s sale in Roscommon Mart.

“I have a lot of repeat customers buying my bulls. I like to sell my bulls fit, not fat. In my opinion, too many breeding bulls are being pushed too hard.

“Some of the bulls going to sales are over fed, which results in problems for the purchasers. Breeding bulls should not be fed ad-lib, they simply won’t last for the next person, not to mention the problems with feet and fertility.”

Replacement index

Although he doesn’t agree with everything the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) does, Pat believes breeders have to work with them, rather than against them.

“ICBF has a lot of useful information which we can utilise. I do believe the replacement index needs to be looked at though. Cows which are five-star for replacement with a one-star milk index does not make sense.

“A cow that is milking well is working hard, so her fertility and body condition will suffer as a result. Finding that balance is not simple, especially when your herd is 100% AI, that makes it even more difficult,” Pat added.

Limousin breed

The year 2025 was arguably the best in decades for suckler and pedigree breeding, and the breed leading from the front was Limousin, with record-breaking averages and clearances.

“I believe Limousin are where they deserve to be. They make tremendous suckler cows and replacements, produce export type weanlings and fantastic beef cattle, with super kill-out and feed conversion.

“There is a great range of Limousin bulls in AI to choose from now, compared to when I first started.

“I think the future of the breed is very bright,” Pat remarked.

As well as being a prominent breeder at national level, Pat is a member of the North West Limousin Club for many years.

“It’s a great club; I was chairman for two years. We currently have four members on the national council who are working hard for the breed and the breeders. I don’t think they get the credit they deserve.”

Future of farming in the west

It is obvious that Pat loves what he does and has a real passion for Limousin. Like many in the west of Ireland, it’s a way of life. “I will be 74 on my next birthday, but that’s only a number. I enjoy what I do every day, I have made a lot friends over the years who are fellow breeders and customers.

“Unfortunately, there aren’t as many young people involved in farming today as there was in my time,” he said.

“The older generation of farmers are not being replaced, if we want to keep suckler farming alive in the west of Ireland we need to really incentivise young people back into it.”