Beef

Aberdeen Angus

The Aberdeen Angus originates from Scotland and is renowned for its easy calving. For that reason, it is used as a sire on heifers in both beef and dairy herds. It has a low growth rate and finishing weight compared to other breads. However, Aberdeen Angus breed societies have been improving the growth rate of this breed. The Aberdeen Angus has a black coat and skin, is naturally polled and is of small-medium size. It is an early maturing breed that produces a lean carcase.

Hereford

The Hereford breed originates from Herefordshire in England. It was first introduced into Ireland around the end of the 1700s. This breed is easily recognizable, with its deep-red coat and white face and underside, which gives it the name 'whitehead'.Some of the characteristics of this breed include: good confirmation, strong muscles, strong legs and feet, early maturing and easy calving. They have a growth rate intermediate between the Aberdeen Angus and the continental breeds, Herefords are commonly used as a beef sire on dairy and suckler herds to produce calves for beef production

Belgian Blue

This breed originates from southern Belgium. It usually has a whitish-blue coat but can sometimes have a black and white coat. It is a double-muscled beef breed due to a mutation in the myostatin gene. They have a higher growth rate than Charolais.Belgian Blues have a high kill-out percentage and produce a high percentage lean meat on the carcase. When a Belgian Blue bull is mated with a normal cow, the calf produced will have some degree of the double muscle. The major disadvantage with this breed is that the double muscle causes calving difficulties. When a purebred Belgian Blue bull is mated with a purebred Belgian Blue cow, the calf is normally delivered by Caesarean

Charolais

Charolais is a very popular beef breed in Ireland. The Charolais is a French breed that was first imported into Ireland in 1964. It is white or cream in colour with a fast growth rate, good confirmation and lean carcase. There is a risk of calving difficulties due to the blocky conformation and high birth weight of the calf. For that reason, a Charolais bull should not be used as a sire on a heifer.

Limousin

The Limousin is another popular sire for beef dams in Ireland. The Limousin originates from France. Limousin cattle are recognized by their reddish-brown coat and their long slender bodies. They have a high muscle to bone ratio, good conformation, high fertility and are easy calving. They have a lower growth rate compared to other continental breeds.

Simmental

This breed orginates from the Simmen Valley in Switzerland. It has a red and white spotted coat, usually with a white face. There are two types of Simmentals; a beef reed that is bred for beef production and a dual-purpose breed that is bred for milk and beef production. The dual-purpose breed is a popular choice for suckler herds because of its beef and milk traits. The growth rate of a Simmental is less than that of a Charolais

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