With the Carrick Winter Fair just around the corner, breeders will be anxious to see what AI sires are producing the top commercial show calves.
In recent years, AI companies have been focusing heavily on identifying the best bulls at home and abroad for producing top commercial show cattle.
As a result, breeders now have a host of AI sires to choose from, across all breeds.
It must be said, Belgian Blue and Limousin sires have been hitting the high notes, with more and more coming on stream all the time. So, which ones are the AI companies’ top three sires at present?
Dovea Genetics
According to Dovea’s beef programme manager John Lynch, Claddagh McCabe ET-LM6529, Ronaldo VD Stokerij -BB9722 and Stigma Van Terbeck-BB2546 are their top pick.
“Claddagh McCabe is the unrivaled Limousin show calf producer, breeding numerous champions and high flyers on the commercial show circuit over the last five years. Calves have topped out at €17,500 and €14,000 in Carrick in 2025. If you want extreme muscling with sweet heads, Ronaldo is the bull.
He is the number one sire in the world on progeny confirmation. Stigma Van Terbeck is the most impressive black and white bull to come from Belgium in the last few years. Seriously impressive progeny seen in Belgium, with length, presence, colour and muscle.”
Rosalish Goulding, beef programme manager with the National Cattle Breeding Centre (NCBC) believes Eclaireur de Roupage-BB9857, Guliver 9495 des Aiwis-BB2764 and Gerrygullinane Archie-LM3101 are their top three.
“Eclaireur progeny have it all, size, length, extra width, phenomenal shape and class. He is the sire of numerous champions, both at weanling sales and summer shows. Guliver is an exceptional Fute son, with length, width, size and shape. If you want a Limousin bull with shape, style, power and presence in abundance, Archie is your bull. A sire for serious cattle breeders.”
Elite Pedigree Genetics
Making up Bartley Finnegan’s top three are household names in the Limousin breed, Graiggoch Rambo-LM9049, Pabo Rocknroll-LM8556 and Trueman Idol-LM9706.
“Rambo is a double Q204X carrier which sold for 180,000gns. He has sired the 2026 Tullamore junior commercial champion, the 2025 Balmoral commercial champion, the 2026 Balmoral Limousin champion and numerous other champions. Pabo Rocknroll is another double Q204X carrier which has bred calves to €20,000 and many other high-priced cattle and champions at shows and sales. Finally, Trueman Idol, a bull that needs no introduction, he has done it all, one of the greatest show calf producers ever.”
Mary Duggan from Eurogene AI picked out Darko De Centfontaine-BB9802, Junior Van Perenhof-BB9808 and Craigatoke Seanog-LM1416 as her top three.
“Darko is built to produce champions. He has it all, power, muscle and style. Junior is known for his impressive size, length, muscular shape and finesse, he has it all to breed show champions. Seanog has a power-packed pedigree. He is sure to breed outstanding progeny with power, width and style.”
Bova AI
Belgian Blue, Limousin and Simmental sires make up Bova’s top three, in the form of Ballyart Rafa-BB2634, Loyal-LM4184 and Derreen Jack-SI4950.
Commenting on the bulls, Michael O’Neill said: “Rafa is a Chocolat son producing extremely consistent, well-muscled, stylish calves. Loyal is ideal for crossing on Belgian Blue and Limousin heifers, producing females with milk and shape. Derreen Jack is the ideal Simmental for crossing on Belgian Blue cows, he is a myostatin single carrier.”
Seamus Nagle of Bullbank is recommending Drumcullen Superman-CH9175, Clenagh Lyle-CH4634 and Ampertaine Jackpot-LM8031.
“Superman is breeding phenomenal power, muscle, ring presence, hair and superb heads. With a leg in each corner, if you’re looking for that X-factor, Superman is the bull to stamp the Charolais characteristics into your calves. Lyle is breeding super quality calves with muscle, hair, bone and cockiness. Breeding particularly well with Limousin cows and cows with power and depth of body.
“Ampertaine Jackpot is breeding very stylish calves, crossing particularly well with Belgian Blue cows. He is an Ampertaine Elgin son off Ampertaine Foreman’s dam, Ampertaine Bathsheba. He sold for 20,000gns in Carlisle as a seven-year-old stock bull, based on his commercial progeny at the Inland Pastures dispersal.”
Red and white sire
Having a major impact in recent times are red and white Belgian Blue sires. One in particular is Izpriceless-BB9616, available from Future Genetics.
“Izpriceless has proven himself to be one of the best red and white Belgian Blue bulls available in Ireland, siring multiple calves that have achieved €10,000 and more, including Tina, who sold for €20,000 in Carrick last year. He also bred two Tullamore champions this year, including two baby beef all-Ireland champions,” said Peter Burns of Future Genetics.
Joining the red and white sire on Peter’s list is Huntershall Tucker-LM1488 and Huntershall Rosco-LM9136.
“Tucker is a NT821 and Q204X gene carrier. His calves are easy born, but develop into quality cattle, with shape and plenty of flash. One of his first calves to go to market in Ireland made €8,600 recently.
“Rosco is a double NT821 carrier, which has sired multiple show-winning progeny, with numerous calves selling for five-figure sums in Ireland and the UK. Calves are born easily, have perfect confirmation, legs and heads.”
Kevin Smiddy of Dunmasc Genetics is recommending Rhum De Lhumea-BB1704, Theo Du Bois Remont-BB1587 and Mountford Rebus-SI2794.
“Rhum will breed heavily muscled, show quality stock, with super hindquarters and a wide chest. He comes with two copies of the NT821 gene. Theo is another top Belgian Blue sire. He’s a square, long bull with super quarters that will breed long, stylish stock with excellent conformation. Finally, Rebus is a long, powerful Simmental bull, which will add style, size, excellent conformation, and at the same time, breed daughters with excellent milk and calving ability.”
