buying cattle in the west of ireland and bringing them to better ground

bosallagh

is there many doing this? was thinking of buying bullers in maybe mohill for replacements where is the best mart in the west for this type of cattle?

Pidae.m

Kerry for football Kilkenny for hurling & the west for cattle , they're just better at it.

bosallagh wrote: »

is there many doing this? was thinking of buying bullers in maybe mohill for replacements where is the best mart in the west for this type of cattle?

Lady Haywire

Depends on what type of stock you're after! Mohill would have fairly good quality animals if you compare it to the likes of Drumshanbo or Dowra. Though there'd be more of a name of the latter two being dealers marts.
Used to see nice hairy type cattle in Ballina, wouldn't be overfed either.

Robson99

Lady Haywire wrote: »

Depends on what type of stock you're after! Mohill would have fairly good quality animals if you compare it to the likes of Drumshanbo or Dowra. Though there'd be more of a name of the latter two being dealers marts.
Used to see nice hairy type cattle in Ballina, wouldn't be overfed either.

Always found numbers and quality better in dowra... better prices too so harder to buy there , but no ****e hawking with lads claiming cattle

carrollsno1

Woukd it be fair to say that the western cattle would have more maternal breeding?

selectamatic

Ballymote has a decent rep.
Castlerea and Drumshambo tend to have plenty of tanglers but still lots of good hardy farmer owned animals to be had if you're vigilant.

Balla in mayo could be one to consider but I've never been so couldn't really comment.

tanko

I've heard it said that there's some great cattle to be bought in Elphin mart. Is there Limestone land around there?

selectamatic

tanko wrote: »

I've heard it said that there's some great cattle to be bought in Elphin mart. Is there Limestone land around there?

Yep some limestone and lots of naturally "good" land too same could be said for Roscommon Mart which would serve most of the South Roscommon area.
Both would have cattle more similar to Marts in the Midlands.

Stealthfins

Kilfenora in the Burren have a mart some evening s during the week.
They're usually hardy enough back that way.

They spend a lot of time in the winterage up in the Burren

Dickie10

bought great cattle in ballinasloe, and then ennis is also good . i buy a few weanlings every year and put them with my own few, i like to try and finish around 40 off grass each autumn

cacs

selectamatic wrote: »

Ballymote has a decent rep.
Castlerea and Drumshambo tend to have plenty of tanglers but still lots of good hardy farmer owned animals to be had if you're vigilant.

Balla in mayo could be one to consider but I've never been so couldn't really comment.

Balla is the best mart in mayo biggest numbers also. It's on Saturday which makes life easier

patsy_mccabe

carrollsno1 wrote: »

Woukd it be fair to say that the western cattle would have more maternal breeding?

The way breeding has gone in the last decade you'd nearly be better with a bit of dairy in the background now.

Cattlepen

The cattle from the west are definitely the best stock. Years of good breeding. But you will pay plenty for them. The marts are well attended by canny men that know their job. Don't expect them cheap

Limestone Cowboy

Stealthfins wrote: »

Kilfenora in the Burren have a mart some evening s during the week.
They're usually hardy enough back that way.

They spend a lot of time in the winterage up in the Burren

You won't beat the stock out of Kilfenora:D

Pidae.m

Or the prices

Limestone Cowboy wrote: »

You won't beat the stock out of Kilfenora:D

flutered

dealers alyaws seem to buy calves and weanlings in the mid west and tipp area then sell them up the west, they have been at it since i was a nipper and probably well before that

cacs

flutered wrote: »

dealers alyaws seem to buy calves and weanlings in the mid west and tipp area then sell them up the west, they have been at it since i was a nipper and probably well before that

I would always check cards at mart before i buy

Stealthfins

Limestone Cowboy wrote:

You won't beat the stock out of Kilfenora

Often on my way home or twoards Kilfenora I see the place packed out with farmers from all over the West.

I must drop in sometime, get a few short horns

Stealthfins

The land back west is a lot cleaner and doesn't really suffer from chemicals and the type of farming you'll see across the Shannon.

With all the wild herb's different grasses and limestone it's great for the cattle, especially the waters full of calcium.

Great for the mate.

Peter90

Based in South Galway, bought a heifer came cheap seen on card letterfrack, has turned inside out serious animal, another in that bunch from Aran Islands, great thriver, the old lads would always say buy cattle from poor land and will always do well

Limestone Cowboy

Stealthfins wrote: »

Often on my way home or twoards Kilfenora I see the place packed out with farmers from all over the West.

I must drop in sometime, get a few short horns

You'll find a lot more golden Charolais than shorthorns inside there!

Mac Taylor

Peter90 wrote: »

Based in South Galway, bought a heifer came cheap seen on card letterfrack, has turned inside out serious animal, another in that bunch from Aran Islands, great thriver, the old lads would always say buy cattle from poor land and will always do well

Peter, where were you picking these up? Gort or Maam cross?

Bullocks

Peter90 wrote: »

Based in South Galway, bought a heifer came cheap seen on card letterfrack, has turned inside out serious animal, another in that bunch from Aran Islands, great thriver, the old lads would always say buy cattle from poor land and will always do well

Some great cattle in Conemara but I never liked the stuff coming in from Aran , they never seemed to want to grow much more when they come in

Peter90

Mac Taylor wrote: »

Peter, where were you picking these up? Gort or Maam cross?

Picked them up of a dealer but they came from maam cross mart

Mac Taylor

Bullocks wrote: »

Some great cattle in Conemara but I never liked the stuff coming in from Aran , they never seemed to want to grow much more when they come in

A lot of good things come out of conemara:D A few lads around here buy lambs but they have great fences.
Mind you one lad had to pay for replacement shrubs when they decimated his neighbours garden.

patsy_mccabe

Bullocks wrote: »

Some great cattle in Conemara but I never liked the stuff coming in from Aran , they never seemed to want to grow much more when they come in

That's their genetics. No advantage in growing higher than the stone walls. They'd be exposed to all the harsh wind.

Limestone Cowboy

patsy_mccabe wrote: »

That's their genetics. No advantage in growing higher than the stone walls. They'd be exposed to all the harsh wind.

All scrub bulls in Aran, fella here buys a lot of cattle there and I often collected them in the docks in Galway for him. I wouldn't be struck on them either!

Bass Reeves

If you want good cattle from an island get the one's off Dursey Island off Glengarriff. I reckon the best cattle in the country come from the Bera and Iveragh Peinsula in Kerry and the nearer the USA there they are the better they're

bogman_bass

carrollsno1 wrote: »

Woukd it be fair to say that the western cattle would have more maternal breeding?

I would say the opposite

Bullocks

patsy_mccabe wrote: »

That's their genetics. No advantage in growing higher than the stone walls. They'd be exposed to all the harsh wind.

Or lack of genetics , a rake of them sharing the same scrub bull

Who2

Limestone Cowboy wrote: »

All scrub bulls in Aran, fella here buys a lot of cattle there and I often collected them in the docks in Galway for him. I wouldn't be struck on them either!

i worked out on the three islands over the summer and was actually extremely surprised by the standard of cattle out there. yes in fairness some use scrub bulls but theres a few that use ai and a couple of good bulls. there was one lad brought me out to show me his cattle and all i can saw is id love a herd of his cows. 7-800kg animals with layers of milk and right well marked.

patsy_mccabe

I was on the Aran Islands once and couldn't see a sheep anywhere. I asked a taxi driver 'how come'. I thought it would be an ideal place for them with all the stone walls. He looked confused.:(

sonnybill

Limestone Cowboy wrote: »

All scrub bulls in Aran, fella here buys a lot of cattle there and I often collected them in the docks in Galway for him. I wouldn't be struck on them either!

+1, good white or grey calf will do for the next year, bull in every second garden

sonnybill

Peter90 wrote: »

Based in South Galway, bought a heifer came cheap seen on card letterfrack, has turned inside out serious animal, another in that bunch from Aran Islands, great thriver, the old lads would always say buy cattle from poor land and will always do well

That's good cattle breeding area and prob 90% Ai as smaller herd size , match the cow to the bull rather than one size fits all, she'd turn on your ground alright in comparison , Clifden mart has serious quality on the big days, ma'am cross very good too and always more numbers and I find cheaper, huge trade on lambs

Who2

sonnybill wrote: »

That's good cattle breeding area and prob 90% Ai as smaller herd size , match the cow to the bull rather than one size fits all, she'd turn on your ground alright in comparison , Clifden mart has serious quality on the big days, ma'am cross very good too and always more numbers and I find cheaper, huge trade on lambs

I lived in letter frack too and a serious number of scrub bulls. Very little ai, out by ballyconneely alright there were good cattle but letter frack they were middling enough, mam cross I found to be full of thin agey miserable animals with horns two foot long, unless it's changed recently.

TITANIUM.

Bass Reeves wrote: »

If you want good cattle from an island get the one's off Dursey Island off Glengarriff. I reckon the best cattle in the country come from the Bera and Iveragh Peinsula in Kerry and the nearer the USA there they are the better they're

Dursey Island is off lambs head West of Castletown Bere. A good hours drive from Glengarriff. Your right though. It speaks for itself when you see lad's travelling from way up the country to buy cattle down this neck of the woods.

CloughCasey1

sonnybill wrote: »

+1, good white or grey calf will do for the next year, bull in every second garden

Have done a good bit of work on Inis Mor. There is one lad who AI's Purebred Parthanise see pics below. There is another lad who has/had two PB Limo bulls which he imported from Athenry. Bought two of his lmx and they came good for me. Terrible amount of rubbish on the island. The two lads im talking about bring in cows and the lad with the two Lim bulls keeps the heifers for the other bull.

Bullocks

CloughCasey1 wrote: »

Have done a good bit of work on Inis Mor. There is one lad who AI's Purebred Parthanise see pics below. There is another lad who has/had two PB Limo bulls which he imported from Athenry. Bought two of his lmx and they came good for me. Terrible amount of rubbish on the island. The two lads im talking about bring in cows and the lad with the two Lim bulls keeps the heifers for the other bull.

I know the lad with the Parts , some advertisement for them really and truly , he keeps his stock in brilliant nick

sonnybill

Who2 wrote: »

I lived in letter frack too and a serious number of scrub bulls. Very little ai, out by ballyconneely alright there were good cattle but letter frack they were middling enough, mam cross I found to be full of thin agey miserable animals with horns two foot long, unless it's changed recently.

Id say the odd man in any area with a small amount of cows for handiness will have a good calf from the year before bought in for the job.

Yeah you are right Ballyconneely/Clifden/Claddaghduff and all round there is a great hotspot for good cattle and some great breed of cows in it. Were you out there many years ago ?

Sam Kade

patsy_mccabe wrote: »

I was on the Aran Islands once and couldn't see a sheep anywhere. I asked a taxi driver 'how come'. I thought it would be an ideal place for them with all the stone walls. He looked confused.:(

The only time I was on the Aran islands was inis mor many years ago and sheep were the last thing on my mind The pub and young women more like We were also amazed that there were no trees there.

kk.man

Love the stories in the book 'Cattleman'.
.by Raymond Keogh...buying cattle in the west and grazing them in the east

cacs

Who2 wrote: »

I lived in letter frack too and a serious number of scrub bulls. Very little ai, out by ballyconneely alright there were good cattle but letter frack they were middling enough, mam cross I found to be full of thin agey miserable animals with horns two foot long, unless it's changed recently.

I agree scrubs everywhere very poor quality