| A Irish record of €24,000 was paid for a bull at last Saturday’s Irish Charolais Society “Christmas Cracker” Showsale in Carrick-on-Shannon Co Leitrim. From an entry of 159 bulls, Cottage Devon, bred by the Butler family in Cashel Co Tipperary, was purchased for Irish AI by the National Cattle Breeding Centre in Enfield Co Meath. Cottage Devon, by French based Texan-Gie dominated the Irish shows in 2009. He was Male Calf Champion at the Charolais National Show, he was Male Champion at the National Livestock Show in Tullamore and again was Junior Male Calf Champion last Saturday in Carrick-on-Shannon. Born on 15 September 2008, Devon’s index places him in the top 1% of the breed in Ireland for Suckler Beef Value at €190. His weight at 13 months, as recorded by the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation, was 865kg. In the Irish beef index Devon has the maximum of 5 stars for all beef and maternal traits coupled with 4 stars for calving ease. His sire Texan-Gie combines excellent growth and conformation with easing calving, but straws from him are very scarce and the bull himself is dead. It is hoped to have straws from Cottage Devon available next March. |