Welcome to the Northern Ireland Blonde Club Pages
Please contact William McElroy on 02897 532982for more details and to order your copy of
Blondes Uncovered the DVD
‘Blondes’ the ‘Perfect End’ to the Winter Blues With spring on its way, many farmers across the country will be getting ready to make the important decision of selecting a terminal sire for their herd. Therefore it is essential to purchase a bull that will increase the profitability, produce progeny that suits our ever changing market and a breed that continues to stay in demand. So whether you are a farmer with a few acres, a few cows and a full time job or whether farming is your full time occupation, Blondes have several advantages to increase profitability of your herd. |
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‘The Benefits of using a blonde Bull’ The Blonde animal is ideal for the pedigree breeder, suckler breeder and for the butcher. Blondes are easily fleshed, very lean, easy calved and have a great daily live weight gain. In A study concluded by Hillsborough research, they stated that the Blonde sire came out equal first as the best terminal sire. Tests where carried out on 43 local commercial beef farms and showed that 52% of cows reappeared 390 days post calving.(+ 4%,) compared to the average of all other major beef breeds used in the study. Blonde terminal sires consistently produce progeny which are amongst the highest carcass weights, The carcass is fine boned, which gives blondes exceptionally good confirmation resulting in a kill out of around 65%.The study concluded that the combined effects of carcass weight and the grading resulted in differences of up to £61 gain per animal slaughtered from progeny of the Blonde compared to other terminal sires. When today’s market demands quality and efficiency, choosing a ‘Blonde’ terminal sire will make a significant difference. The ‘NI Blonde Cattle Club’ ‘Spring Show & Sale’ will take place on of Saturday 5 th April 2008 at Dungannon livestock mart. Any member with bulls or females for sale should contact the Clubs field’s men, Jeremy Paynter: 07761930534 / Martin Rodgers: 07876210762 or the secretary, Alistair Martin on 07710610444 by Monday 21 st January 2007. Further details about the sale will be published at a later date. |
McCauley’s butchers goes Blonde for Christmas!
Well known butcher Fred McCauley of Main Street Rathfriland, recently purchased the champion Blonde animal at Hilltown livestock marts, Christmas Show and Sale which sold for £880. The animal was bred by local farmer Patrick Lively and was sire by a well-known blonde bull, Whitefield leader. The animal weighed in at 660 kilos and realised a kill out percentage of 63%. Fred McCauleys butchers are known through out the area for the quality and service that they provide to their customers. Fred commented that he has been trading for a number of years now and was experiencing steady growth in the business year on year. He said we provide our customers with a top quality service therefore we require top quality beef that we know will satisfy them, that’s why we ‘Prefer Blondes’. The Blonde animal continues to prove successful for our butchers shop, the fact that blonde beef is know for its tenderness, means that we don’t need to hang the blonde carcasses as long as those of other major beef breeds. For us this means we have a quicker turn around which saves both time and money allowing us to sell top quality blonde cuts to our customers at the best possible price, and offer the |
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farmer a better price for his animal. The blonde breed is also low in fat and trials conducted with crossbreed’s confirm that, in spite of a lower proportion of intra-muscular fat, the meat of Blonde progeny can be distinguished from that of any other continental crosses by its tenderness as analysed by sensors. Consumers may therefore be assured that although Blonde beef is lean, but at the same time it is very delicious and succulent. In addition to this, Blonde beef has other plus features that satisfy the current increasing interest in healthy lean meat which is also low in cholesterol. Studies have shown that the Blondes outstanding conformation and ability to produce good quality carcasses, that contain more meat, a higher meat to bone ratio, and extra meat in higher priced cuts compared greatly to other breeds, when crossed with a variety of dams. Blondes have the advantage lower back fat levels, which are lower than those of the other major beef breeds. Testing has shown that blondes achieve better eye muscle area than other breeds, which mean much more meat and less waste. Therefore a Blonde terminal sire will consistently produced progeny which will be amongst the highest carcasses weights, the carcasses will also be fine boned, and will produce exceptionally good conformation resulting in a high kill out of around 60 -70%. The combined effects of carcass weight and the grading resulted in differences of up to £50 gain per animal slaughtered from progeny of the blonde compared to other terminal sires. ‘When today’s markets demand quality and efficiency, choosing a ‘BLONDE ‘will make a significant difference’ ‘So for the perfect Christmas, with quality and choice make Fred McCauley’s your number one choice.’ The NI Blonde Cattle Club would like to wish all its members, Sponsors and anyone else who has supported the club during the year ‘A Very Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year’ |
‘Cups Galore at the NI Blonde Clubs Dinner ’ Over One hundred members of the NI Blonde cattle club stepped out of their welly boots and into their dancing shoes, for the clubs Annual dinner dance and presentation of awards, which was held in the Tullyglass Hotel Ballymena on Saturday 10 th November 2007. I think everyone would agree that it was a great end to the year with good venue, good food, good music and most of all good company. Acting Chairman Kenny Archer welcomed everyone to the dinner, especially, Jim & Ann Calwell from Ulster Bank and thanked them for their continuous support the club. He also paid tribute to the Northern Bank, local press and anyone else who had sponsored or helped the club in anyway, he then went on to thank his committee and members for all their help and support and reflected on the success of the breed during 2007. During the meal everyone was entertained by a PowerPoint presentation called ‘Blondes Uncovered’ which had over 300 photographs. The slide show featured show winners from 06/07, images from the 25 th Anniversary year, The Formal dinner dance held in 06, and A trip down memory lane, with pictures from the past 25 years. Kenny thanked William McElroy for this before calling upon Ann to present the array of silverware to club members. Results are as below. ‘Blonde’s Uncovered’ DVD’s are available to buy, with all proceeds going to the NI Blonde Cattle Club, for further details contact the secretary Ruth, on: 07745014666 NI Blonde Cattle club, Cups 2007 AppleCroft Blondes- J & S Houston Ivaniskey Blondes- I & R McElroy & Son. Dunarron Blondes – J. lees Seaview Blondes – G. Stranney Drumraymond Blondes - H Griffin & Family Drumilly Herd - JR Paynter Budore Blondes - P. McGarry & Family Coole Blondes – H D Dorman &Family Hillhead Blondes – M. R Rodgers Young Breeders and Other Awards The Annihilt Residential Perpetual Trophy presented for the best junior handler – The Endeavour Trophy presented for a Young member who has done the most for the Club during the year. The John Thompson & sons perpetual challenge cup for the Show herd of the year. The NI Blonde cattle club 25 th Anniversary Friendship Bowl presented through the Scottish blonde club for a senior member who has contributed the most to the club during the year. |
 Ann Calwell Ulster Bank presents John Houston, Applecroft blondes, with the NI Blonde Club Cup which he won for the supreme champion at the spring show and Sale, looking on is Acting chairman Kenny Archer |
 All hands on Deck; Ivan & William, back left and Ruth (Centre) of the Ivaniskey pedigree livestock get a helping hand from, Acting Chairman, Kenny Archer, from left Jessie Archer, Ann Calwell Ulster Bank and Laura Ervine, with selection of the silverware which they won this year. |
 Ann Calwell presents Henry and Deidre Griffin Drumraymond blondes, with the silverware they won during this years show season |
 Ann Calwell Ulster Bank presents Paul and Nulla Mcgary of the Budore blondes with their awards which the won during the year, looking on is Acting chairman, Kenny Archer |
 Damian and Micheala Dorman, Coole Blondes receive their award for the best Intermediate heifer at RUAS from Ann Calwell Ulster Bank, looking on is Acting chairman Kenny Archer |
 Ronald and Nicola McGuian of the Ardbrook herd receive their award for winning the NI Commercial Blonde herd competition presenting the award is Ann Calwell Ulster Bank and Acting Chairman Kenny Archer. |
 It’s a family affair; Eamon, Martin, Nula and Emma receive the awards for the young handlers competition held during 2007. |
 Ruth McElroy Blonde club secretary and Ann Calwell Ulster Bank presents Kenny Archer with the 25th Anniversary Endeavour award which was presented for all his hard work and dedication to the club during 2007. |
 Flower Power; Ruth McElroy Blonde club secretary and Ann Calwell Ulster Bank receive flowers from Kenny Archer, Acting Chairman for all the work that they have done during the year |
