Dovea Genetics charity auction 2016 in aid of Bóthar

Dovea Genetics has a long working relationship with Bóthar where they have been providing dairy semen to numerous countries Bóthar have a presence in for the past 20 years.

At the recent launch of the charity auction, Peter Ireton, one of the founders of Bóthar, said that the relationship between Bóthar and Dovea started around 23 years ago when he was on a trip to Africa where he met a local farmer who asked if there was a way to get his cow, a local breed in calf to an ‘exotic’ bull. As soon as Peter arrived back into the country, he got in contact with Dovea Genetics and as they say, the rest is history.

As Bóthar are celebrating their 25th anniversary in 2016, Dovea decided to do something to show their gratitude for being able to work alongside Bóthar assisting in improving the standard of living of those in need.

In spring 2015, Dovea Genetics purchased six beef heifer calves of different breeds from dairy cows with the aim of auctioning them off in 2016. All six of the heifers are sired by Dovea Genetics bulls.

In terms of a venue for the auction, Dovea thought that the best place to raise awareness of the charity auction was to display the six heifer calves at the National Ploughing Championships in 2015 and then go on to hold the auction at the 2016 National Ploughing Championships.

Dovea discussed their proposal for the charity auction with the National Ploughing Association and they kindly granted permission to hold the charity auction.

To help with the promotion of the auction, Dovea Genetics has enlisted the help of six well known sports personalities in different sporting areas who will lead a heifer each into the sales ring on the day of the auction.

The identity of the six sports personalities were revealed at the recent launch of the charity auction in Dovea Genetics.

The sports personalities include, current GAA-GPA Hurler of the Year, Kilkenny’s T J Reid; Cork dual player, Briege Corkery; Tipperary hurler, Seamus Callanan; international show jumper; Greg Broderick; Westmeath footballer, John Heslin and last but not least, former Irish rugby player John “The Bull” Hayes.

The heifers will be auctioned off by a leading auctioneer and Irish sports commentator and television presenter, Marty Morrissey will auction off one of the heifers.

The charity auction is taking place at the Dovea Genetics stand (Block 2, Row 14, Stand 321) on Wednesday, 21st September at the National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Co.Offaly at 1pm so come along and bid for a worthy charity.