Pedigree sucklers and poultry are the two main enterprises on David Abbott's farm, located just outside Killeshandra, Co Cavan.

However, pedigree cattle breeding under the farm's Woodview and Drumcrow prefixes dates back some 90 years now as it enters its fourth generation.

The herd, founded in 1930, originally started out with Herefords before expanding in later years into Charolais and Limousins as continental breeds increased in popularity.

Alongside overseeing expansion of his pedigree herd in the past 10 years, David’s workload has also increased elsewhere, mainly with the broilers and working off-farm.

This year, David has made the decision to sell the majority of his pedigree breeding females in a bid to change his farming enterprise, which he feels will allow him to manage his time better in the future.

Right from when cows calve to when their calves are sold, you need to spend the time with them

“With pedigree cattle you need to have the time for them, something I find is getting more and difficult at the moment.

"Right from when cows calve to when their calves are sold, you need to spend the time with them.

"Let it be halter training or travelling to cattle sales across the country, which can often require multiple days taking into account preparation and then attending the one- or two-day events.

"This was putting strain on other areas of the farm, so changes had to be made somewhere.”

What’s on offer

Saturday’s sale sees a total of 52 pedigree breeding females split between Charolais, Limousin and Herefords.

Sixteen of these are cows with calves at foot - nine Charolais, five Limousin and two Herefords - the majority of which are all in-calf again.

Twelve in-calf cows nearing the point of calving are also to be offered, four of which are Charolais, four Limousin and four Herefords.

Ten in-calf pedigree heifers are offered for sale, five of which are Charolais, two Limousin and three Herefords. All are calving from January to February or June to August.

Also offered for sale are 14 maiden heifers ranging from eight months to two years old, six of which are Charolais, seven Limousin and one Hereford.

Embryos

Ten embryos are also to be sold on the day, all of which are from one of the herd's top breeding show cows sired by Acajou.

Six of these embryos are flushed to Goldies Jackpot and Tomschoice Jet, the other four are flushed to Ampertaine Commander, Ampertaine Foreman and Ampertaine Nugent.

The Woodview/ Drumcrow Pedigree dispersal sale takes place in Elphin Mart this Saturday at 1pm.

The dispersal sale takes place on Saturday 12 December at 1pm in Elphin Livestock Mart. Viewing takes place on Friday 11 December from 4pm to 8pm and on Saturday from 9am to 12pm.

Online bidding is available via the Irish Farmers Journal MartBids App or online at www.martbids.ie.

To view the catalogue, click here.