We have set a clear breeding objective in the selection of our stock. We want milky cows, easy calving, fast growing and easy fleshing/early muscled stock. We are less concerned about the mature size of our stock – the European markets want carcases of 300 to 400 kgs, – the vast majority of consumers want reasonable size steaks. There is little point in having the expense of feeding a huge cow if a medium size one can do the same job – it is however crucial that growth rates are very good up to the weights required by our market.

We have less breeding females in the Celtic herd now than when we started. Over the years we have only sold a handful of females for pedigree breeding. The top females have mostly been retained in the herd, the lower end sold off as commercials. Culling has therefore been extremely rigorous, and our herd standard has consequently risen consistently.

In 2005, having used AI exclusively for about 8 years, we purchased a bull – Hillcrest Jerome. Jerome is a total outcross to our herd, and besides that, is, we believe, a bull with a great future. His dam is the famous Camus Solitaire – probably the best Simmental cow we have seen in these islands. His half brothers, Hillcrest Butcher and Hillcrest Champion have left a tremendous mark on the breed. In addition, Jerome’s full sister and National Champion - Hillcrest Jessabel is rated No 1 in the country on BLUP muscle figures. Jerome himself topped the Tully Bull Performance test and has a reputation as a very easy calver. He brings lots of milk from both his dam and sire. Jerome has sired very few pedigree calves to date, but they are blazing a trail of top prices at public auctions:

• Autumn 2005 Monaduff Production Sale Top Price- € 9,200 for an in-calf female.

• Autumn 2005 4 Herds Production Sale Top Price Bull- € 4,050 for 8 month old bull bred by David Wall

• Spring 2006 Premier Society Sale Top Price - € 5,050 for bull bred by Joe Mc Garry.