Over the last number of years, the demand for show-quality commercial stock has sky-rocketed – the highlight of the year, of course, being the Carrick winter fair, which sees demand coming from all over Ireland and the UK.

Much of these purchases are secured for showing at summer shows the following year. With the majority of shows cancelled for the next few months, we decided to catch up with one of the top show calf producers, Chris Meehan, to see how he breeds these champions and the impact this loss will have on his farming setup.

Chris Meehan and Niamh Oliver with baby Willow. \ Tricia Kennedy

Chris runs the family farm with his father in north Mayo, running 30 cows on a 90ac platform, of which 30ac are rented. Last year was a memorable one for Meehan, as eight weeks after the birth of his first child Willow, he topped Carrick winter fair with a seven-month-old calf which fetched €10,000.

“In April of 2019, I had two extremely good calves born naturally, by two exceptional Limousin-cross dams. However, that year I had decided I wouldn’t partake in any shows as my wife Niamh was pregnant and due in September. So, I had decided fairly early in the year that I was only going attend the winter fair.

“As anyone who shows cattle knows, the preparation and presentation of your animal is a big part to play in success. I put a lot of focus on weight gain throughout the year, and put calves through a forward-grazing system on grass ahead of cows.

As anyone who shows cattle knows, the preparation and presentation of your animal is a big part to play in success

“I stick to a strict feed programme of minerals to both cows and calves throughout the year, which I find is vitally important for both thrive and fertility.

“Willow arrived safely on 20 September and once all was settled in, I was able to concentrate on the final preparations of the calves in the weeks leading up to Carrick.

“With over 500 of the best cattle in the country attending Carrick, it is an extremely difficult show to have success in. Unfortunately, the bull calf, sired by SFL, didn’t place in his class.

“But, he went on to secure the highest-priced Belgian blue bull calf on sale day, selling at €2,500 at 370kg.

“However, my heifer calf lived up to my expectations and was tapped forward in her class and then went on to secure overall junior Belgian Blue champion.

“I had a lot of people approach me about the calf, so I knew she was one of the standout calves of the fair. And she most certainly did not disappoint, selling at a Carrick record price of €10,000 to Blair Duffton. It is nice to achieve such a great accolade with homebred calves.”

I had a lot of people approach me about the calf, so I knew she was one of the standout calves of the fair

Days like these don’t happen by accident and, as Chris says, a lot of preparation goes in beforehand. But, aside from that, you have to start with the right type of animal.

“We milked cows here, but moved to suckling in the late 1990s. I started keeping my own stock in 2009 after moving back to the west, as I was Dublin-based for a number of years.

“When choosing my ideal cows, I am looking for an animal who is good on her feet. I aim to get as much width and power throughout the body as possible.

“I like my cows to have good wide plates and pin bones, in order for her to produce a calf with show potential. I like to keep my cows as sweet and feminine as possible, to enable her to breed stylish progeny. I then try to pick my bulls to suit my specific cows.”

When choosing my ideal cows, I am looking for an animal who is good on her feet. I aim to get as much width and power throughout the body as possible

The Mayo man said that currently, all stock on the farm are AI-bred, with bulls such as TVR, Lodge Hamlet, STQ, Empire, EPI and SFL the stand-outs for the market he produces for.

He added that in the last number of years, he has really focused on keeping a top-quality cow to produce a high-end show weanling and it has really helped with the sale of his stock.

While Chris always liked attending Carrick, the home sales continue to be a big part of the business. Such is the growing demand for the young stockman’s calves that 2020 saw the first embryo-bred calves born on-farm, secured at just a few months of age.

It is important this year that everyone stays safe and well, and hopefully we will be back to showing again next year

Speaking about the cancellations of this year’s show, he said: “It is a big blow to everyone this year. Especially people who purchased cattle last year in the hope of showing them this year. It’s extremely disappointing, as the cost and the preparation put into these cattle is tremendous.

“However, it is important this year that everyone stays safe and well, and hopefully we will be back to showing again next year.”

While stock prices and age profiles of beef and suckler farmers remain a concern, Chris said that while the specialised calf system mightn’t be for everyone, he thinks it could be one of the most viable options for him in the years ahead.

“There seems to be a larger customer base each year, looking for these top-quality calves. I find keeping quality over quantity is working, as you never have a problem selling. Fingers crossed I can keep breeding to the standard that people want to purchase – it is my ambition to continue to do this.”