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The beef display on the Irish Shorthorn Society stand at this year’s National Ploughing Championships will focus on high replacement index animals suitable for the suckler beef herd. The display will feature a selection of high-index pedigree animals from the show circuit and a selection of five-star commercial cross replacement heifers suitable for the suckler herd.
On the dairy side, the primary focus is on the new MS breed code, which the society successfully applied for last year. There will be a selection of calves with the new MS code, as well as a selection of high-yielding milking Shorthorn cows with power and fertility.
The annual draw continues at the Ploughing Championships and this year the top prize is a five-star replacement heifer for just €2 per ticket. The society is also launching a range of hoodies and fleeces at the event for all ages. Council members will be available on the stand (Block 3 Row 4 Stand number 12) to chat and deal with any queries.
The society autumn sales kick off in Ennis, Co Clare, on 3 October followed by Castlerea, Co Roscommon, on 17 October and Blessington, Co Wicklow, on 31 October. The society premier sale will be held in Roscommon on 14 November.
The society will also stage a high replacement index beef open day on the farm of Peter and Martina Luttrell, Killaglush, Ballybrittas, Co Laois, on Saturday 19 September at 1pm. On the day, visitors will see the positive influence beef Shorthorn genetics brings when crossed with continental and traditional breeds.
A selection of replacement heifers suitable for 2016, with some heifers sired by beef Shorthorn bulls used in dairy herds, will be on display. There will also be a selection of progeny from a Grange synchronised breeding programme, where six different beef breeds were crossed on beef Shorthorn cows and beef Shorthorn cross cows.
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