Skidoo set to disperse its commercial autumn-calving herd through Tradeforus
The Skidoo commercial autumn-calving herd is set for dispersal over the coming weeks, with some 30 in-calf cows, freshly-calved cows, cows on the point of calving, and two pedigree registered Limousin bulls on offer.
The Skidoo name needs no introduction and will be known in almost all farming circles – both at national and international level. Most famous for its pedigree Charolais herd which originated all the way back to 1966, when the farm owner at the time – Omer Van Landeghem – introduced some of the first Charolais cattle onto the island of Ireland.
However, the pedigree Charolais female herd was dispersed in September 2019 in what was a sale to remember for farm manager, Donal Callery, and his team, while the pedigree male herd was dispersed since then.
Whether it was the pedigree herd or the commercial herd, the main focus was ease of calving and strong 'milky' cows that would have a calf every 365 days, along with good fertility and strong feet and legs. The commercial herd operated a split-calving system, with 60% of the cows calving in the spring, while the remaining 40% calved down in the autumn - using 60% AI and 40% stockbulls.
Lot 2 : Tag No. IE171071221545: LMX; 4-Star; Replacement Index: 93; Scanned in calf: Keltic Neptune (LM 278); Time up: 19/12/2021
Herd health is always top of the agenda on the north Co. Dublin holding and a closed herd was maintained over the years. A strict vaccination programme was also implemented protecting against: lepto; BVD; IBR; blackleg; rotavirus; and coronavirus. The farm is also surrounded by tillage fields which helped maintain a high herd health status.
Non-replacement heifers from the commercial herd were finished on the farm aged 24 months, while bulls were sold at 12 months-of-age – weighing 500kg – for the under-16 month bull finishing market. The breeds used in the commercial herd were predominately Limousin and Charolais with some Simmental genetics.
When it came to selecting bulls and sires, criteria was very much based around maternal traits, with the aim of building an elite-cow herd. The breeding policy promoted an animal that was early maturing and a medium-sized cow - with high figures for milk, fertility, carcass and conformation.
The breeding season for the autumn-calving cows started mid-December and finished mid-March, with both AI and pedigree Limousin stockbulls - LM278 (Keltic Neptune) and Novinchristie Nicholas (LM312) - being used; AI sires included: KCH, FSH, CH4320 and CH4321.
Lot 12: Tag No. 372224441150312: Novinchristie Nicholas; 5-Star Replacement and Terminal Index; Overall senior champion in Roscrea in 2018
A small number of these cows have already calved, with the remaining due over the coming weeks and months. The 30 cows will be sold in 10 lots of 3, while each of the stock bulls will be sold seperately.
Viewing (by appointment only) these cows is highly recommended for any farmers who are serious about breeding top-quality commercial cattle.
For pictures, videos and animal information, visit our Livestock for Sale section. If you require further information, or to arrange a viewing, call Ciaran at: 0860683810; or Niall at: 0830238423.
September 9th, 2021 | News
