Northern Ireland plays a pivotal role in saving endangered livestock breeds from extinction
“We must save the genetic diversity contained within these animals for future generations,” he said.
“All of the modern livestock breeds that feature on our farms today have their origins in the bloodlines of the cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry that predominated decades and even centuries ago.
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“But the challenges confronting livestock farming today are fast changing. In essence, we now need a farming industry that is wholly sustainable. And it may well be that geneticists will have to depend on the gene pool within the myriad rare breeds now under threat of extinction to source the traits required to make this a reality.”
Broad is the Trust’s regional field officer for South West England, Northern Ireland and Wales. He judged the pig classes at Saturday’s Rare Breeds Survival Trust Northern Ireland show and sale, held in Gosford Forest Park on the outskirts of Armagh.
“Here in Northern Ireland the Trust has been working to secure the future of breeds native to this part of the world, including Irish Moiled and Dexter cattle,” he said.
“But that is only part of the story. The numbers of breeding females within many of traditional UK breeds has dwindled significantly over the last number of years. However, Northern Ireland remains a critically important region for these animals, from a breeding point of view.
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“And this has not come about by accident. The Trust is fully aware, for example, of the importance played by agriculture in the province. Critically, this is reflected in all aspects of the policies enacted by the Stormont Executive.
“Moreover, Trust members throughout the UK know that, in the event of a debilitating livestock disease outbreak, the authorities here in Northern Ireland will ensure that everything is done to minimise its impact. As a consequence, the survival chances of the myriad rare breeds that feature on a growing number of farms across the province are that much greater.”
Last Saturday marked the 30th event hosted by Rare Breeds Survival Trust Northern Ireland. The organisation’s chairman Brian Hunter confirmed a very encouraging entry for all the show and sale classes.
“Despite the poor weather we have received tremendous support from breeder and members of the general public,” he said. “And we can’t ask any more than that.”
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Meanwhile, out in the show rings Co Down Beef Shorthorn breeder Duncan McDowell, was having a tremendous day out. He won the inter-breed cattle championship with a choice heifer, described by judge Leslie Hood, from Ballymena as a “tremendous breeding animal.”
The pig inter breed title was won by Brian Kelly, from Lurgan, with a 2yo Gloucester Old Spot sow. Richard Broad, who judged the pig classes, described his champion as “an elite breeding female.”
He added:“She would perform well within any modern pig farming set up.”
The sheep inter breed title was won by the Kerr family, from Lurgan, with their eye catching Teeswater ram while the poultry championship was won by Co Tyrone breeder John Devenney with a pair of Toulouse geese.
PIG SECTION
Inter-breed champion: B Kelly
Inter-breed reserve: E Gregg
Berkshire breed classes
Sow – any age: 1st E Gregg; 2nd E Gregg
British Saddleback classes
Sow – any age: 1st D Ruddock
Senior gilt class: 1st D Ruddock; 2nd D Ruddock
Junior gilt: 1st S Radcliffe
Junior boar: 1st S Radcliffe
Gloucestershire Old Spot classes
Sow – any age: 1st B Kelly
Senior gilt: 1st B Kelly
Junior gilt: 1st B Kelly
Senior boar: 1st B Kelly
Junior boar: 1st B Kelly
Large Black breed classes
Sow – any age: 1st B Kelly
Middle White classes
Sow – any age: 1st E Gregg; 2nd C Fry
Senior gilt: 1st R Stewart; 2nd E Gregg
Junior gilt: 1st E Gregg; 2nd E Gregg
Junior boar: 1st E Gregg
Oxford Sandy and Black breed classes
Sow – any age: 1st J Girvan
Senior gilt: 1st J Girvan; 2nd J Girvan
Boar – born in 2016: 1st J Girvan
CATTLE SECTION
Inter-breed champion: D McDowell
Inter-breed reserve: R Boyle
Inter-breed pairs champion: A Baxter
Inter-bred reserve: D McDowell
TESCO Derby Senior Champion: N Edwards
TESCO Derby Junior Champion: D McDowell
TESCO Derby Calf Champion: D McDowell
Beef Shorthorn classes
Champion D McDowell
Reserve: D McDowell
Bull class: 1st D McDowell
Calf class: 1st D McDowell
Dexter classes
Champion: D Tumelty
Reserve: M & A Bloomer
Champion calf: D Tumelty
Cow – any age: 1st J McCullough; 2nd J & D Verner
Senior heifer: 1st M & A Bloomer; 2nd A & N Bingham
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Maiden heifer: 1st Montgomery & McClenaghan; 2nd M & A Blomer
Bull – any age: 1st D Tumelty; 2nd N McIlrath
Heifer calf: 1st D Tumelty; 2nd P Smyth
Bull calf: 1st J McCullough; 2nd D Tumelty
Pairs: 1st M Twadell; 2nd Montgomery & McClenaghan
Irish moiled breed classes
Champion: A Baxter
Reserve: R Boyle
Cow – any age: 1st N Edwards; 2nd R Boyle
Maiden heifer: 1st R Boyle; 2nd V Campbell
Bull – any age: 1st A Baxter; 2nd A Baxter
Heifer calf: 1st E Giboney; 2nd S Smylie
Bull calf: 1st A Baxter
Any other breed classes
Champion: R Boyle
Reserve: D Ruddell
Cow – any age: 1st R Boyle
Heifer class: 1st D Ruddell
Young handlers: 1st Cole Hogg; 2nd Corchennia Dorman
SHEEP SECTION
Inter-breed champion S & J Kerr
Inter-breed reserve: L Hamilton
TESCO Champion: R J McCauley
TESCO Reserve: S & J Kerr
Kerryhill breed classes
Champion: D Wylie
Reserve: D Wylie
Shearling ram: 1st D Wylie
Ewe – 2 shear and above: 1st: D Wylie
Shearling ewe: 1st D Wylie; 2nd D Wylie
Ewe lamb: 1st D Wylie; 2nd D Wylie
Ram lamb: 1st D Wylie; 2nd J Stewart
Group of three: 1st D Wylie
Longwool breed classes
Champion: S & J Kerr
Reserve: S & J Kerr
Ram – any age: 1st S & J Kerr
Ewe -any age: 1st J Kerr; 2nd J Kerr
Ewe lamb: 1st T Cole
Jacob breed classes
Champion: J McGrath
Reserve: P Colhoun
Ram – 2 shear and above: 1st P Colhoun
Shearling ram: 1st J McGrath; 2nd P Colhoun
Ewe – 2 shear and above: 1st P Colhoun; 2nd J Magowan
Shearling ewe: 1st J McGrath; 2nd P Colhoun
Ewe lamb: 1st J McGrath; 2nd P Colhoun
Ram lamb: 1st A Hamilton; 2nd P Colhoun
Hill & Heath breed classes
Champion: A Dickson
Reserve: A Dickson
Ram – any age: 1st A Dickson
Ewe – any age: 1st A Dickson; 2nd A Dickson
Ram lamb: 1st A Dickson
Shortwool breed classes
Champion: L Hamilton
Reserve: T Cole
Ram- any age: 1st T Cole
2nd: L Hamilton
Ewe – any age: 1st L Hamilton
Ewe lamb: 1st B Colhoun; 2nd L Hamilton
Ram lamb: 1st L Hamilton
Any other bred classes
Champion: Cochrane & McCauley
Reserve: Cochrane & McCauley
Ram – any age: 1st Cochrane & McCauley
Ewe – any age: 1st P Kelly; 2nd P Kelly
Ewe lamb: 1st P Kelly; 2nd P Kelly
Ram lamb: 1st Cochrane & McCauley
Ram lamb challenge: 1st L Hamilton; 2nd R J McCauley
Ewe lamb challenge: 1st P & S Colhoun; 2nd R J McCauley
POULTRY SECTION
Champion: John Devenney – Toulose Pair
Reserve: Malcolm Davis – Pair Light Sussex females
Best Rare Breed: Sumatra – J & R Hughes