Irish Moiled & Rare breeds Market?

LostInLM wrote: »

Seeing a lot of articles about Irish Moiled cattle and other rare breeds lately.
Wondering what the business model looks like for farming these breeds. What markets exists and is there grant aid for rearing rare breeds? Who normally buys and slaughters finished animals, is it mainly local or specialist butchers? Promotional articles suggest that the meat produced is of excellent quality, how reliable / believable is this?

Wondering if its worth investing in a few.

I know very little about the breed. I emailed a few societies and this is part of that the Irish moiled society sent me.

Irish moiled cattle are best suited to less well off grazing conditions as they have been bred to do so over the centuries. Most if not all of our members would utilize their hardy ground with this breed.
They out winter easily with a bit of shelter and will produce a vigorous calf each year .
Steers will make R grades and others O in the factories if you go down that road but there will not be a massive feed bill against them after finishing.

Now The person who I was in contact passed my details onto a breeder locally and I am waiting to hear from them. So I’ve no details on value of meat or market.

Birdnuts wrote: »

A couple of Moils will be arriving on my place in the Spring - I'll give regular updates about how things are going with them here:)

As in calves?

Birdnuts wrote: »

Weanlings to start

Pedigree? What breeds do you currently have? Why are you going in this direction? What price did you pay if you don’t mind me asking?

I’m considering that route.

Birdnuts wrote: »

Its more a conservation grazing project - I'll have extra rough ground to manage next year that needs tidying up. Currently have a small suckler herd of AAXs. Sourcing the Moils from a chap near Swinford. Paying in and around 800 - 900 yoyos - though still in "negotiation" on that figure;)

Do yo I think you’ll have sale for the moiled bulls? Or do you hope in finishing them?

Base price wrote: »

Doe's anyone know what cattle breeds are included as rare breed status in Ireland?

Kerry cow
Dexter
Irish moiled

I saw on twitter that droimeann just got its breed code so I’d say it’s a matter of time.

Stationmaster wrote: »

Looking into moiled or something similar myself for next year. Starting from scratch and will have about 10 acres of hilly ground that has good grass on it but wouldn't be classed as great land either. Doing it as much out of interest and a want to help preserve rare breeds as much as anything else to be honest - once I'm not losing money I'll be happy out so if anyone has any advice I'd be very grateful. Have a few pigs, goats, ponies and hens around as well.

Have you a herd number?

I contacted the Irish moiled association. They have a website. But I’ve gone no further that that.

There seems to be a rare breed conference each may and it includes ponies, pigs, sheep, goats and cattle.
If I’m free I’ll try get to next years one but I’ve no info on it, just what I googled. This was from last years conference.

http://irishrarebreedsconference.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/IrishRareBreedsConference2018FinalProgram.pdf

Stationmaster wrote: »

Yea, I just found a lot of them info a bit scattered but I suppose I shouldn't expect it to be all there at the press of a button either!

Have herd number and pig number.

What I did is directly email the Irish moiled association. And a chap from donegal replied. I’m waiting on a call back from a crowd in limerick. I’m only planning for the 2021 breeding season. I’d have more land than you but have the same mindset- as long as I don’t loose money
Where are you based? If in Connaught there seems to be sellers on DoneDeal in Sligo.

They have a facebook page - Irish Moiled Cattle Society.

Base price wrote: »

They have a facebook page - Irish Moiled Cattle Society.

They’re a really friendly crowd too, I’ve met them at stands in the north and it was great chatting to them.

Would love a few for sure but with work and family commitments Dry stock suit us better.

Mt. Briscoe farm in Daingean, Offaly, host a Rare Breeds Show every year in July I think, they also have a few Moiled cattle. There's ood share up the North from what I know. Moiled and Droimeann cattle are dairy breeds, (most Droimeamns are around south west I think). I've never seen a Moiley that would be ven close to an R grade.
Most old breed's are gone to pot through lack of population, selection (and thus indiscriminate breeding).Also poor management resulting in negative epigenetics hasn't helped. That said there are always a few people trying their best.

Kepak have launched a Welsh Black cattle scheme.
https://www.farmersjournal.ie/kepak-launch-welsh-black-cattle-scheme-510954

_Brian wrote: »

Why not a traditional Irish breed.

I don't know tbh but possibly down to numbers. The Welsh Black scheme will really only apply to farmers in Wales as they have the numbers. According to the article there are less than 100 cattle registered here. AFAIK there is a Dexter scheme but I can't remember who operates it.
Edit to add: There seems to be a drive in the UK to support their native breeds. Buitelaar Intl, an Irish company that operates in the UK predominantly with calf rearing schemes recently announced a Longhorn scheme in conjunction with an AI company. UK farmers are changing away from more commercial breeds and now supporting their native beef breeds.
https://www.facebook.com/buitelaargroup/posts/1382249871933141
http://www.genusbreeding.co.uk/longhorn/?fbclid=IwAR3QLGm-F1NYmValtDNL4aZAsZX8Cro3L_kSgsdJCSvAKLZEThW7xCbVZ_k

Say my name wrote: »

I thought for a minute there they were going to import Welsh black to kill in this country. :pac:

They've a factory in Wales.

Yep they do and afaik they are supporting British farmers under the Red Tractor brand. The article doesn't indicate what the full terms or bonuses are.

I read a few weeks ago that the "triple a" Angus scheme has finished. The ordinary one is still going but I've heard of factories delaying booking and cutting bonuses especially during the recent beef blockades.

I don't know much about the Hereford and Shorthorn schemes and other than the aforementioned Dexter scheme I'm not aware of any other scheme for the native cattle breeds within our geographical area, iykwim.

Droimeann cattle have been granted native Irish rare breed status. Kerry, Dexter and Irish Maol are the other native breeds.
https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2020/0108/1105072-droimeann-cow/

That’s great.
Credit to those keeping these breeds going and making a success of it.