INTRODUCTION
Castlemartin Charolais Herd was founded in 1976. The original nucleus stock was purchased from within the top herds in Ireland and subsequent importations were also made from Great Britain and France.
We have always sought and selected the best bloodlines, the top cattle from sales and shows and from top performance herds wherever they become available.
OUR POLICY- “To Sell FIT not FAT”
The Consumer to-day is very conscious of diet, health and value for money. Fat is certainly out. The demand from the housewife now means quality lean meat. Changes in lifestyle and eating habits are rapidly taking place with the result that both the supermarket and the family butcher will be compelled to supply the type of meat required by the modern housewife. The Charolais is renowned for quality lean meat with excellent confirmation.
Our policy is to concentrate in the improvement of the quality of our herd. Females are selected on the lines of “their ability to milk”, “to be good mothers”, “to reach optimum size at maturity”, and their “good disposition and easy handling characteristics”. Maximum performance is our goal. We offer value for money with a continual awareness of what the market demands. Our present herd consists of 75 breeding females. We offer a selection of yearling bulls, yearling heifers, and two-year-old heifers in the calf for sale at the farm and at the Irish Charolais Cattle sales held during the year.
Castlemartin Pedigree Cattle have been exhibited throughout the many shows in Ireland during the last 32 years. The Herd has achieved Championship, Interbreed Championship Supreme Awards and has remained consistent amongst the top Charolais herds in the country.
We are proud of our achievements and believe that we have earned our good reputation in breeding and selling a wide range of cattle to prospective customers throughout Ireland and the UK.
THERE ARE THREE ENTERPRISES ON THIS ESTATE:
Pedigree Charolais Cattle:
- The Herd size presently has one hundred and seventy five breeding females, one of the largest and longest established pedigree Charolais herds in the country. We use three stock bulls and also a wide variety of top semen from A.I to give us an exceptional genetic base for quality breeding.
- This Herd participates in the Farm Recording Scheme and Linear Scoring. All cattle are linear scored and farm recorded and evaluated under the Euro Star system.
Belted Galloway Herd:
The Castlemartin Belted Galloway Herd was founded in 1992 with the importation of 4 young females from France. Since then we have increased numbers steadily. In 2004 we imported 12 females and 12 male from Denmark. We run a herd of 45 pedigree registered Belted Galloways. Our herd recently exported 2 bulls back to Scotland, the home of the Belted Galloway.
Thoroughbred Breeding Mares:
Sir Anthony and Lady O’Reilly own a combined total of one hundred and thirty breeding mares and they breed them to the top class stallions worldwide. http://www.castlemartinstud.com
