Watch: Gearing up for show and sale season with Oliver O’Hara
Farming near Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim with his wife Christine and their children Shane and Karen, Future Beef Programme participant, Oliver O’Hara is gearing up for show and sale season.
Carrying a suckler herd of ~30 cows, mainly Limousin and some Belgian Blue crosses, alongside a sheep enterprise of 120 ewes and a contracting business, the weeks ahead are very much centred on getting animals looking their best for their eventual date with prospective buyers.
In the video below, filmed as part of a Future Beef monthly update, Oliver outlines the selection process for both heifers and bulls.
Heifers from good genetic and proven dam lines are selected, targeting the commercial suckler farmer market, and ultimately destined for the Fat Stock Show and Sale in Carrick or the Manorhamilton Show and Sale in December.
“We try to have a couple of good type heifers for farmers to buy as commercial cows going forward. We try to keep the stars as high as we can,” Oliver explained, prioritising calving ease, muscling, feet and leg correctness and most importantly, a fine head.
Two pedigree Limousin bulls are also being prepared for the Centenary Multi Breed Pedigree Sale in Carrick. Their breeding is very much influenced by the use of top and proven AI sires in Ireland and England, EuroStar indexes and most importantly for prospective buyers looking to retain replacements, milk.
Through the video, Oliver outlines the process involved in readying both bulls and heifers for sales, focusing on nutrition, halter training, and having animals docile and rested in advance of sales day, crediting Shane and Karen for the work they put in in advance.
Watch the video below where Oliver outlines what the look for in a show animal and how they are trained and managed in the lead up to a sale:
For more from the Teagasc Future Beef Programme, visit here.