The ‘’4 Breed Calf Show’’ took place at its new venue of Ballymena Livestock Mart on Saturday 30th November. Four breeds, with calves up to the age of 16 months from the Blonde, Blue, Salers and Simmental N.I cattle clubs compete within their respective breeds.
This allows both first time show calves as well as first time exhibitors, the opportunity to test themselves in a safe, enclosed environment prior to next year’s summer shows. It was good to see the McClenaghan family out showing their two bulls for the first time, following the setup of their new herd prefix ‘Slievenaman’.
The Salers were very well supported on the day, with the largest of Salers entries to date of 29 and a respectable 21 Salers shown through the ring on the day. The spectacle on display from some of the best Pedigree Salers breeders in N.I.
The Salers section was closely judged by Knockagh Salers breeder, Mr David Boyd.
David and his son, Alexander run a pure Salers suckling herd, a number of finishing cattle and a flock of ewes on an upland farm at almost 100 feet.
David explained to us how they were attracted to the Salers breed almost 30 years ago. They were looking for a suckler cow that was easy calving, milky and lasted a number of years. They found all of these traits in the Salers cow. They find that when the Salers cow is crossed with the Charolais bull, you get the ultimate ‘’Golden nugget’’ calf!!!
In the 4 Breed showring, David found his senior Salers champion in an 11-month-old heifer from the Drumlegagh herd of John Elliott. Drumlegagh Tami is a daughter off their French imported stock bull Rocky and is out of a homebred dam, Drumlegagh Karena.
Tami was earlier placed 1st in a strong senior heifer class against two other heifers, Carrick View Trish stood in second place with Drumlegagh Toyah placed third.
Tami’s stablemate, Drumlegagh Troy was tapped out as the Salers senior reserve champion by the judge. The same stock bull sires the 16-month-old Troy, Rocky and is a maternal son to a Drumlegagh Hamish daughter named Drumlegagh Princess.
In the junior class, David found his junior Salers champion in a sweet 8-month-old heifer named Ballykeel Unreal. Unreal is bred by Rathfriland breeder Seamus Connell who runs his Pedigree Salers herd under the Ballykeel prefix. Unreal is sired by Seamus’ French imported stock bull, Mathieu. The dam of this junior champion is a homebred Jocker daughter named Ballykeel Oonagh.
Unreal was earlier awarded first place out of a quality class of four 8- to 12-month-old heifers. George McCall’s Carrick View Uda was placed second, Stephen Maginn’s Lisnamaul Useful stood third with Brookfields Up town girl standing in fourth place.
Tapped out reserve junior champion was another Drumlegagh bull: – Drumlegagh Ultra. Ultra, bred by John Elliott is another son of their imported stock bull, Rocky and their show cow Drumlegagh Petal.
Show results as follows with classes kindly sponsored by Fane Valley Feeds and the Salers Cattle Society.
Class BS – Senior Bull Class (Born 1/9/2023 – 31/12/2023)
1st Drumlegagh Troy J ELLIOTT
2nd Slievenaman Theodore W&R MCCLENAGHAN
Class HS – Senior Heifer Class (Born 1/9/2023 – 31/12/2023)
1st Drumlegagh Tami J ELLIOTT
2nd Carrick View Trish G MCCALL
3rd Drumlegagh Toyah C&A KENNEDY
Class BC – Intermediate Bull Class (01/01/2024 – 31/03/2024)
1st Drumlegagh Ultra J ELLIOTT
2nd Brookfields Ulynenn G WILSON
3rd Lisnamaul Untouchable S MAGINN
4th Slievenaman Uel W&R MCCLENAGHAN
Class HC – Intermediate Heifer Class (01/01/2024 – 31/03/2024)
1st Ballykeel Unreal S CONNELL
2nd Carrick View Uda GMCCALL
3rd Lisnamaul Useful PJ MAGINN
4th Brookfields Up town girl G WILSON
Class BJ – Junior Bull Class (Born on or after 01/04/2024)
1st Ashcroft Ultra R&R KELLY
2nd Mileview Ultimate C&A KENNEDY
3rd Ashcroft Unstoppable R&R KELLY
4th Mileview Usher C&A KENNEDY
Class HJ – Junior Heifer Class (Born on or after 01/04/2024)
1st Ashcroft Unity R&R KELLY
2nd Mileview Udele C&A KENNEDY
3rd Carrick View Undine G MCCALL
4th Mileview Utopia C&A KENNEDY
Class PP – Pairs Class
1st Lisnamaul Salers
2nd Ashcroft Salers
Championship classes kindly sponsored by HVS Animal Health.
Salers senior champion
Drumlegagh Tami
Salers senior reserve champion
Drumlegagh Troy
Salers junior champion
Ballykeel Unreal
Salers junior reserve champion
Drumlegagh Ultra
In the young handler classes, we had a few Salers exhibitors present in the rings and testing their skills in various age groups.
Their showmanship was judged under the experienced eye of Miss Molly Bradley with the classes kindly sponsored by Countryside Services Ltd.
In the Junior: 8-12 age group – Eva McClenaghan.
In the Senior: 17-19 age group – Russell Kelly was placed first in the class with Joseph Maginn being placed in third place.
There was a great crowd of people around the ring and seated in the grandstand watching the quality on show throughout the day. It was nice to see Salers breeders from our neighbouring Irish Salers club travel up the road from the South to attend the event.
With the increased number of Salers calf entries and the gained interest in younger Salers breeders participating in the young handler classes, the Salers breed future looks brighter
Thanks must go to the 4 Breed Calf Show, Ballymena Livestock Market, the exhibitors, Judges, Stewarts, Photographers and visitors.
More photos to follow from Mullagh Photography & Design
Fane Valley Feeds HVS Animal Health Paul Elwood
