The Woodpark herd of pedigree Charolais is renowned across the UK for repeatedly producing top-quality breeding stock which are widely used within the purebred and commercial suckler beef sectors.
Owned by Will and Eleanor Short, and based on the outskirts of Beragh, Co Tyrone, the herd has also realised notable success within the show ring.
Up and coming bloodlines, along with established herd sires and breeding females annually compete for major honours at Balmoral Show and a host of smaller, regional shows across the province.
At the upcoming Balmoral Show, two breeding bulls have been entered for competition. A third animal, kindly donated by the Short family to the Northern Ireland Charolais club to raise funds for local charity, will also be on display, as well as competing at the show.
Show team
The two bulls entered include a homebred animal and one of the herd’s two senior stock bulls. Woodpark Oak is a March 2018-born animal, sired by Deeside Gulliver and born to the 2013-born imported cow Maerdy Isabel, sired by Maerdy Dynamite.
Gulliver has stamped his authority on the herd, producing several prize-winning bulls at the premier sales in Stirling and at numerous shows
Woodpark Oak sire Deeside Gulliver was bred in Ireland and purchased as a stock sire in 2013. Since joining, Gulliver has stamped his authority on the herd, producing several prize-winning bulls at the premier sales in Stirling and at numerous shows.
His progeny are highly sought after, with bulls selling to a top price of 16,000gns in 2017 for Woodpark Longbow with several sons commanding sale-topping prices.
The senior bull entry is Blelack Marmaduke, a June 2016-born animal sired by Oakchurch Igor and out of Blelack Hillary, a cow with Maerdy and Thrunton genetics in her pedigree.
Herd background
The Woodpark herd prefix is synonymous with pedigree breeding and Will is the third generation of his family to produce top-quality breeding stock.
The current herd consists of 50 pedigree Charolais cows which are predominantly bred to natural service.
AI and embryo transfer are used to exploit the genetics of top-performing females, with embryos also frozen as a safety net in the event of a disease outbreak.
Breeding females are predominantly home-bred, although heifers are occasionally purchased if their bloodlines bring something different to the herd makeup.
Peak demand for breeding bulls occurs from February to May and for the year to date, 15 bulls have been sold during the outlined period
Around 20 bulls are sold for breeding annually through society sales or directly off farm. Bulls which are not deemed suitable for breeding are fattened and killed.
Peak demand for breeding bulls occurs from February to May and for the year to date, 15 bulls have been sold during the outlined period.
All remaining breeding bulls on farm will be sold within the next fortnight, freeing up time for other herd management tasks and summer shows.
Showing cattle
The origins of the herd run back to the early half of the 20th century, starting with pure-bred Aberdeen Angus bred on farm.
Even then, the herd was no stranger to winning awards, with show animals claiming the breed championship at the 1935 Balmoral show.
Multiple successes have since followed, with the herd’s most recent Balmoral success coming in 2017, with the home-bred 2015-born cow Woodpark Lottie securing the supreme breed championship.
The cow was sired by the herd’s former stock bull, the 19,000gns Corrie Alan, a prolific breeder of award-winning and highly valued breeding animals sold in Stirling.
What makes a show animal
Showing cattle has been a lifelong passion for Will and something that gives him personal satisfaction.
According to Will, there are three key criteria to producing show animals. Firstly, the most important aspect is having good herd genetics.
The second aspect is managing the animal to tap into those genetics and have animals in prime condition.
The final thing needed is luck
This includes the right feeding programme, without over-doing the animal, so that cattle are mobile on all four feet but still possess excellent shape, muscling, size and width.
The final thing needed is luck, as months of preparation can be quickly undone with minor mishaps prior to showing animals.
Will’s experience in breeding show cattle has been recognised by the British and Irish Charolais Societies, by carrying out judging duties at premier shows in Stirling and Tullamore.
Preparation
Young bulls with breeding potential are identified around nine months of age and moved onto a high plane of concentrate feeding.
From nine to 12 months of age, animals with show potential are then separated from the breeding group. During this period, bulls are halter trained and become accustomed to handling.
Water intake is restricted at this point and bulls are offered haylage to have animals in prime condition for showing
Show cattle are clipped around one week prior to a show. For Balmoral, cattle will arrive at the show grounds on the Monday to allow them to settle.
Water intake is restricted at this point and bulls are offered haylage to have animals in prime condition for showing.
Ritchie Devine leading Woodpark Olivia. \ Alfie Shaw
Woodpark Olivia
donated for charity
The Short family has donated one of the best young breeding females in the Woodpark herd to raise funds for the Air Ambulance and NI Children’s Hospice.
Woodpark Olivia is a February 2018-born heifer, sired by Deeside Gulliver and the Jupiter sired dam, Woodpark Freckles.
The heifer is a half-sister to the 2017 Balmoral champion, Woodpark Lottie, through the same herd sire.
Olivia is also a half-sister to Woodpark Longbow, sold for 16,000gns at the Stirling bull sales during spring 2017.
With a proven pedigree, Olivia is a prime heifer for someone to acquire to establish their own pedigree Charolais herd or to add to an existing enterprise.
To be in with a chance of winning Olivia, raffle tickets will be on sale at Balmoral Show at the NI Charolais Club’s stand beside the cattle lawn.
Tickets will also be on sale at local shows this summer, or alternatively contact club committee members.
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The Woodpark herd of pedigree Charolais is renowned across the UK for repeatedly producing top-quality breeding stock which are widely used within the purebred and commercial suckler beef sectors.
Owned by Will and Eleanor Short, and based on the outskirts of Beragh, Co Tyrone, the herd has also realised notable success within the show ring.
Up and coming bloodlines, along with established herd sires and breeding females annually compete for major honours at Balmoral Show and a host of smaller, regional shows across the province.
At the upcoming Balmoral Show, two breeding bulls have been entered for competition. A third animal, kindly donated by the Short family to the Northern Ireland Charolais club to raise funds for local charity, will also be on display, as well as competing at the show.
Show team
The two bulls entered include a homebred animal and one of the herd’s two senior stock bulls. Woodpark Oak is a March 2018-born animal, sired by Deeside Gulliver and born to the 2013-born imported cow Maerdy Isabel, sired by Maerdy Dynamite.
Gulliver has stamped his authority on the herd, producing several prize-winning bulls at the premier sales in Stirling and at numerous shows
Woodpark Oak sire Deeside Gulliver was bred in Ireland and purchased as a stock sire in 2013. Since joining, Gulliver has stamped his authority on the herd, producing several prize-winning bulls at the premier sales in Stirling and at numerous shows.
His progeny are highly sought after, with bulls selling to a top price of 16,000gns in 2017 for Woodpark Longbow with several sons commanding sale-topping prices.
The senior bull entry is Blelack Marmaduke, a June 2016-born animal sired by Oakchurch Igor and out of Blelack Hillary, a cow with Maerdy and Thrunton genetics in her pedigree.
Herd background
The Woodpark herd prefix is synonymous with pedigree breeding and Will is the third generation of his family to produce top-quality breeding stock.
The current herd consists of 50 pedigree Charolais cows which are predominantly bred to natural service.
AI and embryo transfer are used to exploit the genetics of top-performing females, with embryos also frozen as a safety net in the event of a disease outbreak.
Breeding females are predominantly home-bred, although heifers are occasionally purchased if their bloodlines bring something different to the herd makeup.
Peak demand for breeding bulls occurs from February to May and for the year to date, 15 bulls have been sold during the outlined period
Around 20 bulls are sold for breeding annually through society sales or directly off farm. Bulls which are not deemed suitable for breeding are fattened and killed.
Peak demand for breeding bulls occurs from February to May and for the year to date, 15 bulls have been sold during the outlined period.
All remaining breeding bulls on farm will be sold within the next fortnight, freeing up time for other herd management tasks and summer shows.
Showing cattle
The origins of the herd run back to the early half of the 20th century, starting with pure-bred Aberdeen Angus bred on farm.
Even then, the herd was no stranger to winning awards, with show animals claiming the breed championship at the 1935 Balmoral show.
Multiple successes have since followed, with the herd’s most recent Balmoral success coming in 2017, with the home-bred 2015-born cow Woodpark Lottie securing the supreme breed championship.
The cow was sired by the herd’s former stock bull, the 19,000gns Corrie Alan, a prolific breeder of award-winning and highly valued breeding animals sold in Stirling.
What makes a show animal
Showing cattle has been a lifelong passion for Will and something that gives him personal satisfaction.
According to Will, there are three key criteria to producing show animals. Firstly, the most important aspect is having good herd genetics.
The second aspect is managing the animal to tap into those genetics and have animals in prime condition.
The final thing needed is luck
This includes the right feeding programme, without over-doing the animal, so that cattle are mobile on all four feet but still possess excellent shape, muscling, size and width.
The final thing needed is luck, as months of preparation can be quickly undone with minor mishaps prior to showing animals.
Will’s experience in breeding show cattle has been recognised by the British and Irish Charolais Societies, by carrying out judging duties at premier shows in Stirling and Tullamore.
Preparation
Young bulls with breeding potential are identified around nine months of age and moved onto a high plane of concentrate feeding.
From nine to 12 months of age, animals with show potential are then separated from the breeding group. During this period, bulls are halter trained and become accustomed to handling.
Water intake is restricted at this point and bulls are offered haylage to have animals in prime condition for showing
Show cattle are clipped around one week prior to a show. For Balmoral, cattle will arrive at the show grounds on the Monday to allow them to settle.
Water intake is restricted at this point and bulls are offered haylage to have animals in prime condition for showing.
Ritchie Devine leading Woodpark Olivia. \ Alfie Shaw
Woodpark Olivia
donated for charity
The Short family has donated one of the best young breeding females in the Woodpark herd to raise funds for the Air Ambulance and NI Children’s Hospice.
Woodpark Olivia is a February 2018-born heifer, sired by Deeside Gulliver and the Jupiter sired dam, Woodpark Freckles.
The heifer is a half-sister to the 2017 Balmoral champion, Woodpark Lottie, through the same herd sire.
Olivia is also a half-sister to Woodpark Longbow, sold for 16,000gns at the Stirling bull sales during spring 2017.
With a proven pedigree, Olivia is a prime heifer for someone to acquire to establish their own pedigree Charolais herd or to add to an existing enterprise.
To be in with a chance of winning Olivia, raffle tickets will be on sale at Balmoral Show at the NI Charolais Club’s stand beside the cattle lawn.
Tickets will also be on sale at local shows this summer, or alternatively contact club committee members.
Read more
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Rapid start to breeding season in Newford Herd
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