Irish Simmental Yearbook 2024-D - Flipbook - Page 5
Presidents Address
Presidents Address
A Chairde,
I
would like to
sincerely welcome
you all to our latest
edition of the
Irish Simmental
Yearbook.
My name is William
O`Halloran of BearnaDhearg Simmentals and I
am a native of Cahir, Co.
Tipperary where I farm
one hundred acres on a
part-time basis with the
help of my wife Mary and
son Robert.
Bearna-Dhearg Princess ET – Reserve Overall Female Champion & National Yearling Heifer
It is a great honour for
Champion Tullamore 2023
me personally and for
my family to represent you as President of the Irish Simmental Cattle Society.
We milked around fifty cows mainly Montbeliarde up until 2009, so when choosing a different path, it
was fair to say I liked the red and white! We purchased our first four cows at the Clonagh Reduction
Sale of 2009 and followed this with many more purchases from various breeders throughout the
country since. One breeder to mention is John Kenny from the Ballyduff Herd in Co. Waterford from
whom we purchased many very successful females for our herd.
The Simmental Breed comes out on top time and time again as they continually deliver on Weight
Gain, Feed Conversion, Temperament and Ease of Management. It is very satisfying for me to read
recent AHDB National Beef Evaluation results in the UK which places Simmental as the No: 1 Breed for
these traits.
This at a time when our friends in ICBF are questioning the Replacement & Terminal attributes of our
breed. Acknowledging that both gene pools are so interrelated is not possible for both AHDB and
ICBF to be correct.
I would strongly urge all society members young and old to show support and have their voices heard
at club meetings and events throughout the country. There is great strength in numbers and our
regional clubs really need the continued support.
Council is working very well together and are strongly committed along with other Breed Societies to
ensure that ICBF refocus on their mission statement which is “to provide evaluations to assist farmers
in decision making” rather than currently dictating to farmers.
I would like to wish all Breeders an enjoyable year showing and great success selling Simmental cattle
at home and abroad while making many acquaintances along the way. I would like to thank my fellow
Council Members for selecting me as President of this Society and a special word of thanks to Peadar
Glennon and Marian Bergin for their dedication and willingness to assist all breeders.
I have made many great friends through Simmentals since my first purchase in 2009 and if I can be of
any help to any Member throughout the coming year, please feel free to contact me.
Yours Sincerely,
William O`Halloran.
IRISH SIMMENTAL YEARBOOK 2024
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