BullBank AI stands as Ireland’s newest frozen bull semen business, having been established 20 months ago by Seamus Nagle of Castle View Farm, Doonagore, Doolin, Co Clare.

Having identified an opening in the market for superior genetic merit cattle, Nagle began choosing select bulls to market from his base in west Clare.

That was just the start and now the company has experienced sales across Ireland and the UK and secured a big market in South American countries.

History

While the establishment of the business may be new, the acquisition of top bulls for stud by the Nagle family has been taking place for years. The only difference nowadays is that the semen is frozen in liquid nitrogen tanks versus the historic live bull matings in Ballaghaline.

Seamus said: “In the 1870s, my great-great-grandfather Michael Nagle and his brother James set up roots in Castle View Farm.

“The farm runs in one block of 550 acres stretching from the townland of Ballaghaline to the north and Doonagore to the south. The brothers established a field in 1872 within 200 yards of the Atlantic Ocean ‘The Bullfield’. This field has essentially been run as a bull stud since that era.”

Seamus explained that many north Clare farmers would have had one to five cows per household and the ‘Bullfield’ had a choice of roan, red or white Shorthorn bulls to choose from in the early years.

BullBank AI’s recently purchased Drumcrow Reeko, which will be available later this year. \ Tricia Kennedy

“The neighbours ran their cow to the Bullfield and a price was set of a day’s labour in the hay field or the bog to pay for the cover of the bull. That custom continued until quite recent times in Ballaghaline.”

The breed in west Clare remained Shorthorn up until Seamus’s grandfather Cyril Nagle senior purchased two Hereford bulls from a farmer named Wardrobe in Portarlington, Co Laois. He went on to purchase another three bulls from Mr Wardrobe over the next two decades.

Introduction

In 1977, the farm purchased its first Blonde d’Aquitaine bull from France and two years later a second Blonde arrived. Going forward to 1991 and the Nagles first Charolais bull arrived in Clare.

The 1990s also saw the introduction of the first Aberdeen Angus bulls to Castle View.

“The farm runs 90 to 100 suckler cows and followers at all times, so a minimum of three to four bulls would have been run over the years to keep the system working.”

The last breed that was introduced to the farm was Salers with a purchase of a bull in 2009 from the late Brian Halton, Bailieborough, Co Cavan.

Work life

From an early age, Seamus had a complete fascination with animals of all types, particularly cattle, horses and sheep. Childhood was spent following his grandfather Cyril senior and father Cyril junior around the yard with a wheelbarrow, a three-pronged fork, a Ford 3000 and a cock lifter.

Calving cows and dropping sheep were the main interest in his early years, keenly followed by keeping the young calves and lambs alive and thriving. That apprenticeship, combined with spending time with his uncle Kevin Howley in the back of his cattle lorry buying and selling cattle, set an early foundation in agriculture.

Four years of an honours degree in animal science through UCD and six years working for Keenan’s of Borris in the UK have all helped Seamus develop a rounded understanding of global farming in both beef and dairy farms.

“It was during work experience in college when I worked a summer in Munster AI that confirmed that a career in bovine genetics was what interested me most of all,” said Seamus.

“The pursuit of the very best of genetics was something that drove both my grandfather Cyril senior and my father Cyril junior over the years. I strongly believe that a huge demand exists in Ireland, the UK and internationally for superior genetic merit cattle.

“I viewed a gap emerging in the Irish and UK markets in particular over the last 20 years for a specialist company to supply this market with top-class bulls and to make the service available worldwide.”

The bulls

The first bull Seamus recruited in May 2018 was Clenagh Lyle (CH4634). This bull was the junior champion bull from the Christmas cracker sale in Elphin 2016 before selling to Chris Curry of the Burradon herd in England for €13,000.

“Lyle is an exceptional Domino son off a great Pirate cow Clenagh Tranquil. Lyle is breeding exceptional pedigree and commercial calves both sides of the Irish Sea.

“His first son Burradon Olympian was sold in Stirling in October 2019 for 6,200gns. Three really good sons are forwarded for the February bull sales in Stirling that we are very excited about.”

Dairy bull

Due to his southern location, Seamus was constantly on the lookout for a good dairy bull to add to his stud. A strong trading relationship with Rob Wills at UK Sire Services allowed him to acquire Goonhilly James (FR175).

“Goonhilly James was arguably the biggest addition to the stud since Clenagh Lyle. James is the second-highest ranked British Friesian bull available in the UK.

“His breeding includes Catlane Chad, Tittenser Hylke and Balckisle Glenalbyn. He descends from the famous Sylvia cow family in James Tripconey’s Goonhilly herd in Cornwall.

“Demand has been very strong both in British Friesian herds and Holstein herds looking for one cross of a British Friesian with structure, milk and overall type merit.”

While these bulls, along with many others, have already left their mark from speaking with Seamus, it’s easy to see his excitement about the 2020 lineup.

“BullBank AI is excited to have secured three elite pedigree Limousin bulls from Harry Emslie, Aberdeen, Scotland, for 2020 – Whiskey Infinity, Rahoney Isaac and Proctors Cavalier.

“Whiskey Infinity was overall Limousin breed champion at the Royal Welsh Show 2017 and senior bull champion at the Royal Highland Show the same year. Rahoney Isaac is an absolute powerhouse. He is an exceptional son of Haltcliffe Dancer and is bred to produce top muscled and heavy weanlings at the mart and to produce commercial cattle champions.”

These three Limousin bulls may have helped the excitement shown for the 2020 year, but it’s only the tip of the iceberg, with new additions to his dairy lineup and a recent purchase at the elite Angus sale in December. Adding to the dairy side of the house, Seamus was able to add three Fleckvieh sires from Bayern Genetik in Germany.

“Bayern for me is the leading Fleckvieh stud in Europe and it has a very detailed breeding programme which has been in existence for decades.

“Hainau and Wildfire are the two high-production bulls, providing milk volume, fat and protein and overall dairy merit. Welfenprinz is a similar bull, but has added beef merit.

“There has actually been demand for Welfenprinz from beef farmers looking to add milk to their herd while maintaining strength and conformation.”

Seamus was also lucky enough to secure his bull of choice at December’s Irish Angus elite sale. This bull went by the name of Drumcrow Reeko, which sold for €5,000.

“Reeko is a powerful Angus bull with length, style, superb top line development, performance and easy fleshing. He is a son of Drumcrow Joker, perhaps the most consistent breeder of top Angus bulls through Carrick-on-Shannon and Kilkenny over recent years.

“Semen will be available later this year, with pre-orders already in from Uruguay, Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Ireland so far.

“We now have 20 bulls on offer, with a big interest from the likes of Chile, Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay. BullBank might be only 20 months in the frozen semen business, but with five generations of breeding bulls behind us, the future is in safe hands,” Seamus concluded.