Sean Hayden started using the Stabiliser breed a number of years ago after buying a small number of purebred heifers. Sean has stuck with the breed ever since, so much so that he now has only a handful of continental cross cows left in the herd, all of which will be phased out in the coming years.

Sean is running 100 cows, taking all bulls to under 16-month beef and selling some heifers as breeding females, with the rest kept as replacements. A bunch of Stabiliser cows and calves on show on the evening proved very popular among attendees, who commented mainly upon the size, quality and docility of the stock.

Before walking out to the fields, the crowd was given a presentation on the Stabiliser breed by Billy O’Kane, who runs one of the most recognised Stabiliser breeds in the UK. Based in Ballymena in Co Antrim, Billy has previously won the Farmers Weekly UK beef farmer of the year title.

Billy placed a focus on three key areas: the maternal ability of the cows, the feed conversion ratio of the breed and the beneficial characteristics taken from the hybrid vigour of the four different breeds that make up the Stabiliser

Pointing out the strides that the pig and poultry industry has made in breeding higher performing breeds, Billy likened the Stabiliser breed to “being like a modern chicken or pig - except with a rumen”.

At the end of the event, ICSA national suckler chair John Halley handed out a survey among attendees focusing on the proposed CAP reforms and budget cuts. Halley himself outlined his preference for the implementation of an environmental scheme, similar to REPS.

For more on the event, see this weekend’s beef weekend report on www.farmersjournal.ie, which will feature an interview and video with Sean Hayden.