Fifty pre-selected lots for Aubrac sale in Offaly mart this Saturday

FIFTY pre-selected lots are catalogued for the Irish Aubrac Cattle Society’s Elite Annual Show and Sale, which takes place at Tullamore Mart this Saturday, October 26.

All animals are to be penned by 10 am, with a pre-sale show at 11:30 am, followed by the sale at 1 pm.

According to the society’s chairman, James Donnellan, the event is the pinnacle of its annual calendar:

“We are bringing together some of the best the breed offers, and all have been pre-inspected by an ICBF scorer. At our sale, we will have 10 of the best 4 and 5-star Aubrac bulls available, and they will be ideal for both suckler and dairy farmers and, indeed, pedigree breeders.”

“We will also have 40 females, ranging from maiden heifers to in-calf cows. This is an opportunity for our breeders to source stock to upgrade their pedigree herds.”

“It also is a great sale for suckler farmers to buy replacements that meet the terms of the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP), as they will all be 4 – 5-star rated.”

Aubracs have been making great strides in Ireland, and, according to ICBF’s figures, is ranked the number one breed for Replacement Index, and number one for Dairy-Beef Index (DBI).”

“This makes the breed a fabulous option for both suckler and dairy farmers. Aubracs are excellent for ease at calving and are a very docile breed. But the real place Aubracs reward farmers is at the factory, with the final prices achieved.”

“All stock are also genotyped, and export tested. I am inviting everybody to come to a great day at Tullamore Mart. If you cannot travel on the day, you can view and bid online on LSL Auctions, but you must contact Tullamore Mart before the sale to register.”

“They can be contacted at +353 57 932 1196. Do not leave it until the last day. Also, updates will be posted regularly throughout our sale day on our society Facebook page: Irish Aubrac Society,” Donnellan concluded

The Aubrac breed is a suckler cow breed originating from the mountainous areas of Southern France, where conditions are harsh.

Originally used for milk and draft, it has retained milking ability and placid temperament, adding to its natural beefing ability, hardiness, and low production costs, making it a complete suckler cow.

As a suckler cow, the Aubrac offers the advantages of a pedigree animal (generations of selection, consistency of production, and higher sale value of progeny) coupled with hardiness and maternal qualities that allow the cows to be run in the same manner as a commercial herd.

Bulls finished in Ireland have consistently graded U and E, and the breed’s excellent feed conversion allows the animals to finish quickly at any age and with a quality carcass. The Aubrac’s meat-to-bone ratio is exceptionally high and is in great demand with butchers.

As a bull for crossing on commercial and dairy herds, the breed has proven itself, producing easily born calves that finish well for the males and make excellent replacement heifers for the females.

Find more information on www.aubrac.ie