SECRETARY’S REVIEW
IRISH HEREFORD BREED JOURNAL 2014
One of the most difficult winters on record was followed by an extremely late spring. The problems were exacerbated by the very poor quality of fodder on most farms due to the wet summer of 2012. Herefords were seen to maintain condition on much of this poor quality feed and demonstrated that the same quantities of meal necessary to maintain other breeds were not required. Nevertheless additional costs in production were experienced with scarcity a factor, leading to a situation where hay and straw were even in late April had to be imported from the UK and France. Such a situation had never before occurred in living memory. Some nervousness ahead of the early bull sales was quickly dissipated as the Premier Show and Sale at Tullamore proved a winner. The pace and demand at the venue set the scene for sales to follow and with the change in weather the market quickly settled down.
During the past year the Society has embraced the genomic testing program at ICBF. This has involved considerable cost for both breeders and the Society apart from the initial benefit of all registered bull calves being sire verified the long term benefits are expected to lead to faster genetic gain within the breed. This project will continue in 2014 and the support of breeders is much appreciated. It is in the interests of all breeders and the Irish beef industry that the better genetic lines male and female are indentified so that the Hereford breed can maintain its position as a leading player in the Irish beef industry.
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Concerns arising in the meat business raised issues of traceability which highlighted the value of the Hereford meat brands with had a higher level of visibility, traceability and an identifiable source. Beef prices reached levels not seen previously but sadly as we go to the press these prices have reverted to where they were prior to the alert. Thankfully for the Hereford branded products the markets built up in recent years continue to have the support of the consumer.
The Irish Agricultural Research organisation Teagasc in researching the production of Hereford cross beef from the dairy herd at their research unit at Johnstown Castle, in Co Wexford have been extremely positive. Teagasc have demonstrated that up to €2,029 per hectare gross margin is achievable in the low input high input system devised at Johnstown. This is extremely good news to dairy farmers producing Hereford cross calves which sell at an appreciable premium and to beef producers purchasing those calves and later supplying beef at eighteen to twenty four months of age for the Hereford beef schemes.
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The year 2013 has been an extraordinary one not alone due to the unusual weather pattern but also because of the increased interest in the Hereford breed.
Given a little time to overcome many years of claims that carcass shape is an indication of beef quality rather than consumer preference for eating quality producers who have not considered Hereford previously will check out the breed and I have no doubt will be impressed.
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Larry Feeney
made over the past fifteen to twenty years.
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For many years Hereford breeders and enthusiasts have talked about the quality, flavour, texture and taste of Hereford beef. It has been a long a laborious task building the brand. It has taken much time and effort not to say financial investment by the Society and others to achieve the current level of success and growing market.
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Currently at least four major meat plants pay a premium for Hereford cross carcasses that meet the spec required for the various Hereford beef brands available to top chefs, restaurants, two major supermarket chains across Ireland and the Carrefour chain in Italy. If you are travelling across Europe this year you are likely to find Irish Hereford beef has arrived before you. The Hereford brands are well packaged of extremely high quality and provide a delicious eating experience. Given that the fast expanding demand from consumers is well deserved. Consumer resistance to bull beef and changes in supermarket packaging has this spring in particular put severe pressure on producers of bull beef. This is an enterprise that has gown enormously in Ireland in recent years but has now reached its zenith. Carcass size, age of animal and adequate fat levels has become issues. The use of a Hereford bull by producers particularly within continental breed cow herds has the capability to fix some the problems being experienced. Some producers long accustomed to using continental bulls have yet to look at and appreciate the great genetic strides the Hereford has
Society members have played their part in the current BVD eradication program and are to be commended in doing so. Irish farmers have unbelievably expended €9,000,000 on the program in 2013 without a shred of recognition or thanks from those driving the animal health initiative.
The Society will very shortly release a promotional DVD that has now been in production longer than intended but will be available to promote the breed into the future. In addition it is intended to update the Society’s website and online presence to provide information to a growing number of individuals from at home and abroad becoming interested in the breed. It is important that breeders continue to take their animals to the summer shows and continue to exhibit the breed and demonstrate its value and relevance in the modern Irish beef industry.
Demand for the breed through AI has grown significantly over the past year and with purchases of new Irish bulls for AI by both Dovea and Eurogene breeders and commercial producers will have greater choice in 2014.
The commitment and dedication of breeders in the promotion of the breed is much appreciated and your continued support in 2014 will grow the breed.
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