SIMMENTAL BOOSTING PROFITS AT CLELAND’S LEGAMADDY DAIRY FARM Simmental is ticking the boxes and providing an additional source of income for dairy farmers Hamilton and Andria Cleland, and son Matthew, from Legamaddy Farm, Downpatrick, County Down.
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arming 270 acres, the main enterprise on the County Down farm is a 130-cow commercial dairy herd averaging over 8,000 litres at 4.3% butterfat and 3.3% protein.
Hamilton’s experience of using Simmental stock bulls spans over 40 years. “My father always had a Simmental bull, so I’ve grown up to appreciate the physical and financial benefits of the breed’s maternal and terminal traits.”
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Legamaddy Farm, winner of the NFU’s Tidy Farmyard Award in 2019, has also built-up a strong reputation for its quality crossbred Simmental progeny. The Cleland family regularly benefit from farmgate sales of dropped calves and suckler replacement females.
He added: ”We established Legamaddy Farm 11 years ago. Prior to that I farmed in partnership with my father and brother.
“We have a number of repeat customers for calves and heifers,” added Hamilton. Two-week-old dropped calves command between £270 and £300 per head, while suckler farmers are willing to pay well above market average for replacement maiden heifers.”
“Milk prices had started to plummet, and as dairying was our main enterprise, we had to explore new ways to sustain the farm business. There were good sheds on the farm, and after securing additional conacre land, we decided to finish Simmental beef from the dairy herd.”
Over the years Simmental stock bulls have been purchased at NI Simmental Club sales, and privately from pedigree herds such as Slievenagh and Craigy. The most recent purchase at the club’s Dungannon sale in April was the 3,000gns Rehall Karl bred by William and Keith Stubbs, Irvinestown, County Fermanagh.
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www.britishsimmental.co.uk
