The first privately-owned pure-bred Charolais calf to be born in Northern Ireland had been born on a farm near Lisburn reported Farming Life during this week in December 1970.

And it was noted that the calf had “the makings of an exceptionally good bull” and its early birth to an 18-month-old mother had not stinted its growth.

The mother, Estrancia, was closely related to Uranium – the dearest bull in the world, which had sold for half a million dollars in America – was one of six French Charolais heifers which had been imported in Northern Ireland by Mr Robert Simpson, of Mountpleasant, Lambeg, in the first private importation of the breed into Northern Ireland.

After investigation was found to have been sired by Bocag – a brother of Adorni, the bull which had been nominated by a commission of top breeders as “Bon Raceu” for 1970 – the best of the breed. Both bulls were sons of Sylvan which had been an outstanding bull in France.

Pictured at the Pig and Poultry Fair at Balmoral in October 1993 are Cyril Millar (second right), of Millar Livestock, with Alan Shepherd (left), of Elite Sires Ltd, Henry Milligan, Maghera, and Adrian Wylie, Tobermore. Picture: Farming Life archives/Darryl Armitage

placeholder image — Pictured at the Pig and Poultry Fair at Balmoral in October 1993 are Cyril Millar (second right), of Millar Livestock, with Alan Shepherd (left), of Elite Sires Ltd, Henry Milligan, Maghera, and Adrian Wylie, Tobermore. Picture: Farming Life archives/Darryl Armitage

“I don’t suppose this breeding would have come out of France if it had not been by accident,” suggested Mr Simpson.

In August 1979 he had toured the cream of Charolais breeding farms in France to select suitable foundation animals to build up a Charolais herd in Northern Ireland.

He had purchased eight heifer calves which passed the strict French quarantine teats. Two of them were allocated to other Northern Ireland breeders as Mr Simpson had importation permits for six animals only.

Mr Simpson's heifers came out of the Northern Ireland quarantine station in May this year and into a specially prepared house on the Simpson farm.

Aidan Rooney (left) and Adrian Dallas, members of the Northern Ireland Hotel and Catering College, Portrush, serving up tasty bites to visitors at the Pig and Poultry Fair which was held at Balmoral in October 1993. Picture: Farming Life archives/Darryl Armitage

Two months later one of them, Estrancia, was believed to be in calf. This was confirmed by a veterinary surgeon and Northern Ireland's first Charolais calf - Francola – was a promising young bull.

Mr Simpson got in touch with the breeder, M Georges Simon, at Issy-L'eveque, France, (where the most expensive bull in the world had been bred) in an effort to establish parentage and pedigree.

His early disappointment of an early calf had turned to delight when the news came back, together with official papers and, certificate, that the sire of Francois was none other than Bocage - brother of Adorni, the best bull of its breed in France.

Farming Life noted: “With a big potential market in Northern Ireland for Charolais cattle, approaches have already been made to Mr Simpson for his Charolais bull calf.”