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Rare Cattle breeds

  • 26-07-2019 10:35PM
    #1
    gerryirl
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 577 ✭✭✭


    just wondering if anyone has rare traditional irish breeds. If so whats the market for them etc.


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Comments

  • #2
    wrangler
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,484 ✭✭✭✭wrangler


    gerryirl wrote: »
    just wondering if anyone has rare traditional irish breeds. If so whats the market for them etc.


    Never saw any of them selling which, I suppose, says it all really,
    A neighbour is feeding Wagyu crossbreds, only a short while at it yet so haven't heard anything about it, they look like Jerseys in the distance


  • #3
    gerryirl
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 577 ✭✭✭gerryirl


    ya im wondering what they do with the steers. the likes of a dexter for example. Just enquiring as a side project


  • #4
    Danzy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,065 ✭✭✭✭Danzy


    Woman in Tipp has Dexter beef for sale, think she has about 10 neighbouring farms involved now as well.

    Export.


  • #5
    Albert Johnson
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 1,929 Mod ✭✭✭✭Albert Johnson


    I think with all rare breeds and especially niche types such as Dexter's you need to be able to market the end product from farm to fork. Unless your able to both produce the raw product and market the finished one then it's not viable imo. The likes of Drumanilra farm locally is a prime example of what it takes to make rare breeds a financial success. You need to cover all the stages from breeding to finishing to marketing the end product and everything in between. Rare breeds are rare for a reason and thinking that you can just produce unusual weanlings or stores and land them into the local mart is a sure route to disappointment imo.


  • #6
    gerryirl
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 577 ✭✭✭gerryirl


    thanks for the replies folks.

    Ya there not the sort of stock you would ever see at a mart. just interesting to know the market for them


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  • #7
    Water John
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,829 ✭✭✭✭Water John


    Drumshanbo would have an organic mart, once a month. Worth checking out, if you're any way near. As Albert said Drumanilra do farm to fork and are interested in organising a group of farmer suppliers. BTW that's organic.


  • #8
    Markcheese
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,060 ✭✭✭Markcheese


    Duhallow organics, are doing dexter as well, Niall'd be a straight guy to chat to, in terms of contacts Ect..

    Slava ukraini 🇺🇦



  • #9
    Albert Johnson
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 1,929 Mod ✭✭✭✭Albert Johnson


    The monthly sales in Drumshanbo are an ongoing success and attract buyers and sellers from all over the country. In my experience the best time to sell organic stock live is from April through to August, these are the peak months for grass growth and always see the dearest sales. The autumn and winter months usually see the price premium over conventional cattle reduce considerably especially for weanlings and lighter stores. Having said that the demand for forward stores usually outstrips the supply all year round.

    Rare breeds aren't that uncommon at the monthly sales and can often sell as well as an equivalent AA or similar provided there of reasonable size and potential. Irish moiled or long legged Kerry cattle for example command similar prices to average type cattle of more common breeds. Dexter's however are a different story and are definitely a niche product. It's very hard to achieve any sort of half decent money through the sales for them and imo a market needs to be secured long before they come ready for sale otherwise disappointment will ensue.


  • #10
    Water John
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,829 ✭✭✭✭Water John


    Thanks Mark, hadn't heard of them. Will check them out.


  • #11
    Hurling Hereford
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 320 ✭✭Hurling Hereford


    gerryirl wrote: »
    just wondering if anyone has rare traditional irish breeds. If so whats the market for them etc.

    Definitely a market for Dexters.

    Not so sure about the likes of Kerrys or Irish Moiled to be honest.


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  • #12
    _Brian
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,920 ✭✭✭✭_Brian


    Hurling Hereford wrote: »
    Definitely a market for Dexters.

    Not so sure about the likes of Kerrys or Irish Moiled to be honest.

    The Moiled are a truly beautiful cow.


  • #13
    Albert Johnson
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 1,929 Mod ✭✭✭✭Albert Johnson


    _Brian wrote: »
    Hurling Hereford wrote: »
    Definitely a market for Dexters.

    Not so sure about the likes of Kerrys or Irish Moiled to be honest.

    The Moiled are a truly beautiful cow.

    I believe the moiled have a place in Irish beef production especially with an renewed interest in low input systems. They were the traditional cow type in the West and northern regions of the country and could well be again.


  • #14
    coolshannagh28
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,488 ✭✭✭coolshannagh28


    Albert Johnson wrote: »
    I believe the moiled have a place in Irish beef production especially with an renewed interest in low input systems. They were the traditional cow type in the West and northern regions of the country and could well be again.

    A sin to kill them.


  • #15
    Water John
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,829 ✭✭✭✭Water John


    Coolshannagh never knew you were practised Hinduism.


  • #16
    coolshannagh28
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,488 ✭✭✭coolshannagh28


    Water John wrote: »
    Coolshannagh never knew you were practised Hinduism.

    Ah now I do have an odd pang of regret when I load them.


  • #17
    Albert Johnson
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 1,929 Mod ✭✭✭✭Albert Johnson


    coolshannagh28 wrote: »
    A sin to kill them.

    To a point perhaps but for any farmed animal to reach sustainable numbers they need to be killed and eaten with gusto. There's a massive disconnection currently between animals and food production imo and it's only getting worse. It's a much used trope that many urban dwellers believe food comes from the shop but it's becoming a stark reality for many. If anything the majority of marketing campaigns in recent years feed this misconception, I think it was a recent Bord Bia advert for lamb that really brought home this phenomenon to me. It showcased everything positive about the Irish countryside and agriculture, in fact the only thing missing from a perfect lamb advert was in fact the sheep. God forbid that the poor consumer might be racked with guilt about scoffing poor Shaun the sheep and his pals. Without animals there'd be no farming and with agriculture there'd be no domesticated farm animals.


  • #18
    Albert Johnson
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 1,929 Mod ✭✭✭✭Albert Johnson


    coolshannagh28 wrote: »
    Water John wrote: »
    Coolshannagh never knew you were practised Hinduism.

    Ah now I do have an odd pang of regret when I load them.

    I used to find that the promise of a cheque helped soften the blow but in recent years the real sadness only begins when I view the statement.


  • #19
    Base price
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,616 ✭✭✭✭Base price


    When I read posts about rare breed cattle I always think of the Bo Riabhach thread. IMO they are probably the most important Irish heritage breed - https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057807598
    https://www.google.com/search?q=B%C3%B3+riabhach&client=firefox-b-d&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=fVPUIMJB1n68TM%253A%252CXH0otR6ruI7T7M%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kR_0qLoa7UR3muoZS0AbhfiYJS5XA&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiV59eRhdvjAhX5VBUIHb-eDJAQ9QEwAnoECAkQBg#imgrc=qiCB7Sye7uzovM:&vet=1


  • #20
    Hard Knocks
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,272 ✭✭✭Hard Knocks


    Albert Johnson wrote: »
    To a point perhaps but for any farmed animal to reach sustainable numbers they need to be killed and eaten with gusto. There's a massive disconnection currently between animals and food production imo and it's only getting worse. It's a much used trope that many urban dwellers believe food comes from the shop but it's becoming a stark reality for many. If anything the majority of marketing campaigns in recent years feed this misconception, I think it was a recent Bord Bia advert for lamb that really brought home this phenomenon to me. It showcased everything positive about the Irish countryside and agriculture, in fact the only thing missing from a perfect lamb advert was in fact the sheep. God forbid that the poor consumer might be racked with guilt about scoffing poor Shaun the sheep and his pals. Without animals there'd be no farming and with agriculture there'd be no domesticated farm animals.
    There’s allot who won’t eat lamb because they had a connection with a baby lamb
    One thing that saddens me is when out for a meal and not seeing lamb on the menu, it’s a delicious food


  • #21
    Base price
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,616 ✭✭✭✭Base price


    Hard Knocks wrote: »
    There’s allot who won’t eat lamb because they had a connection with a baby lamb
    One thing that saddens me is when out for a meal and not seeing lamb on the menu, it’s a delicious food
    Our favourite place to dine (The Glenview Lounge) unfortunately only offers meals on Friday to Sunday evening. OH always orders a steak (either a 9oz, Ribeye or T bone) and sometimes I defer from the steaks and order the slow cooked lamb shank - it's normally on the menu.

    I regularly bring a lamb shank pre packed dinner to my sister in NCD.


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  • #22
    Hard Knocks
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,272 ✭✭✭Hard Knocks


    Base price wrote: »
    Our favourite place to dine in unfortunately only opens on Friday evening to Sunday evening. OH always orders a steak (either a 9oz or Ribeye) and sometimes I defer from the steaks and order the slow cooked lamb shank - it's normally on the menu.

    I regularly bring a (cold) lamb shank pre packed dinner to my sister in NCD.

    OH would generally order Steak while 7/10 I’d go for lamb
    If the NCD folk like lamb, you should arrange a full NCL lamb for them


  • #23
    kollegeknight
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,380 ✭✭✭kollegeknight


    Base price wrote: »
    When I read posts about rare breed cattle I always think of the Bo Riabhach thread. IMO they are probably the most important Irish heritage breed - https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057807598
    https://www.google.com/search?q=B%C3%B3+riabhach&client=firefox-b-d&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=fVPUIMJB1n68TM%253A%252CXH0otR6ruI7T7M%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kR_0qLoa7UR3muoZS0AbhfiYJS5XA&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiV59eRhdvjAhX5VBUIHb-eDJAQ9QEwAnoECAkQBg#imgrc=qiCB7Sye7uzovM:&vet=1

    Any word on the progress of this?


  • #24
    Base price
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,616 ✭✭✭✭Base price


    kollegeknight wrote: »
    Any word on the progress of this?
    Unfortunately OP hasn't posted any updates since.
    It's a pity considering they are such a important native breed. I've haven't heard any mention of them on any of the farming forums recently.


  • #25
    kollegeknight
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,380 ✭✭✭kollegeknight


    Base price wrote: »
    Unfortunately I don't think so as the OP hasn't posted any updates since.
    It's a pity considering they are such a important native breed. I've haven't heard any mention of them on the main farming forums recently.

    Same as, I’ve heard nothing. I must pm the op and see.


  • #26
    Base price
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,616 ✭✭✭✭Base price


    kollegeknight wrote: »
    Same as, I’ve heard nothing. I must pm the op and see.
    It's an awful pity that DAFM don't publish stats/figures for Irish rare breeds :mad:


  • #27
    gerryirl
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 577 ✭✭✭gerryirl


    are they a bit like having a MF 20 . they were all the go to have a few years ago. grand to look at but fook all use


  • #28
    kollegeknight
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,380 ✭✭✭kollegeknight


    gerryirl wrote: »
    are they a bit like having a MF 20 . they were all the go to have a few years ago. grand to look at but fook all use


    I personally see the importance of having and maintaining what I’ll call heirloom breeds. Seed savers in scariff do it with plants and veg, why not with livestock? Some of our greats mythological stories are around animals.

    When there is no financial need from our farm, I plan on trying a breed or two.

    They may not be as efficient as charolais but who’s to know if everything including input and effect in the land was included.

    Part of our global problem is there isn’t enough looking into the past to see effective practices. It’s plough on and off with you.


  • #29
    coolshannagh28
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,488 ✭✭✭coolshannagh28


    I slaughtered Dexter steers a month ago that made more than commercials well over 100 kg heavier.


  • #30
    Birdnuts
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,896 ✭✭✭Birdnuts


    kollegeknight wrote: »
    I personally see the importance of having and maintaining what I’ll call heirloom breeds. Seed savers in scariff do it with plants and veg, why not with livestock? Some of our greats mythological stories are around animals.

    When there is no financial need from our farm, I plan on trying a breed or two.

    They may not be as efficient as charolais but who’s to know if everything including input and effect in the land was included.

    Part of our global problem is there isn’t enough looking into the past to see effective practices. It’s plough on and off with you.


    Not to mention the dangerous genetic bottleneck with many modern commercial breeds of everything from cattle to tillage crops. Its vitally important that as much genetic material is maintained in the system from the past to meet future needs and challanges for all types of farming


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  • #31
    gerryirl
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 577 ✭✭✭gerryirl


    coolshannagh28 wrote: »
    I slaughtered Dexter steers a month ago that made more than commercials well over 100 kg heavier.


    is there a special premium on them. What weight do the dexters kill out at


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