AUBRAC CATTLE HAVE BEEN GIVING US CONSISTENT RESULTS FOR 19 YEARS

with” which leaves no doubt about conviction in favour of the breed.

“Aubrac suit our system of farming which is not intensive but as we are full time farmers the profit has to be enough to sustain the family and keep on investing in the farm. With Aubrac cattle, we can do that” he explains.

Stock from the Calverstown Herd are rarely seen on the show circuit.“We are not interested in shows but look for an efficient suckler cow that leaves us with a bit of profit” says Kim.

While it may appear unusual for a high profile pedigree herd not to utilise the show as a shop window for the progeny, demand from other breeders for all available progeny from the herd for breeding or finishing as beef animals speaks volumes.

And it is not the only unusual feature of the herd or the farm where farming continues in a modern style of traditional farming methods — with very limited artificial fertiliser.

In addition to the Aubrac Herd the 85 ha farm, which is run by Kim and his wife, Mireille who is also very involved in the management, carries 80 breeding ewes and there are 10 ha of forestry.

About 350 tonnes of farmyard manure and 105.000 litres of slurry are spread on average each year with Bacteriolit added to the straw in the shed and to the slurry. Bacteriosol is also used. Bacteriolit and Bacteriosol are a natural product from Sobac which speeds up composting.

The manure is usually spread in August and September and slurry between January and March. The farm is mainly old pasture with a very high concentration of clover mostly white and red.

“We have found a noticeable improvement in the pastures since using it. The grass is sweeter and the animals eat more of the field. It also helps to rectify compaction problems and reduce weeds” he explains.

The farm was in REPS for a number of years and was demonstration farm for REPS 1. In AEOS hedges have been planted, rich meadows species managed and an orchard replanted.

“The farm is not organic but we are being careful to protect the environment and wildlife in simple measures that do not interfere with the profitability on the farm,” says Kim.

The success of the farm has been recognised in the national awards received. In 1990 it won the National Farming and Conservation Award, followed in 1998 by the Profitable Farming and Conservation Award, in 2000 with first prize for REPS for the Leinster region and in 2009 by an RDS-sponsored Forestry Award.

The farm was originally purchased by the McCall family in 1958. Kim’s father bred racehorses and fattened bullocks on the farm. In 1986 when Kim took over he opted for suckler cows and sheep to replace the horses choosing the Aubrac breed which he has never regretted.