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Aberdeen-Angus for the Suckler Herd

For the best of both worlds - the terminal sire to produce cattle for the high quality butchers’ market - the main component in the ideal suckler cow.

The suckler herd sire which produces the famous high quality beefing characteristics in its progeny - whatever the dam.
Renowned for its good temperament, natural polling, and ease of calving advantages which gives minimum stress to the cows and consequently less stress for the farmer.
Easy managed, efficient and good survivors, Aberdeen-Angus is a favourite in all beef producing countries where extensive cattle rearing methods are used.

Pure and cross-bred cows make one of the best suckler dams for upland or lowland beef production where the key to profit depends on an efficient cow. The major cost in producing a suckled calf is the upkeep of its mother. Hardy and thrifty Aberdeen-Angus cows are unmatched in the beef world for their mothering ability and their natural longevity cuts the cost of herd replacements.

Medium sizes Aberdeen-Angus cows give optimum returns on the suckled calf/cow weight ratio - the additional benefits of higher stock rates than larger framed breeds.

Aberdeen-Angus a breed on the move

The modern Aberdeen-Angus is bigger, heavier and ‘stretchier’ that its predecessor of 30 years ago but it has retained all the traditional qualities of the breed. Breeders have been conspicuously successful in improving the growth rates and in the last 10 years the average 400 day weight recorded by the MLC has shown an increase of 73 kgs for bulls and 52 kgs for heifers

The Aberdeen-Angus breed of cattle is renowned throughout the world for the economic, low cost production of QUALITY BEEF.

Demand for the quality beef is growing throughout Europe and it will be essential for commercial beef producers wishing to exploit this expanding market to include Aberdeen-Angus in their cross - breeding programme.


	Aberdeen-Angus for the Dairy Herd


	The easy care breed: The Dairy farmer can maximise his returns from both surplus calves sold and the milk produced from cows and heifers mated to an Aberdeen-Angus bull, particularly with its outstanding reputation for EASE of CALVING

	Improve yields: It is tempting to think that a larger calf will make more money in the sale ring, however, a difficult calving can drastically reduce milk yield so the price obtained for the bigger calf is soon eroded. Combine that with a gestation period which about a week shorter than average and two weeks shorter than most continental breeds, thus improving caving index and maximising milk output.

	Profit from calves: The calf crop is an important element of income from the dairy herd. Use an Aberdeen-Angus bull and you will produce a heifer calf that is much sought after as one of the best suckler cows available, or a fast growing steer calf which will provide a lean and easily marketable carcase.


	Aberdeen-Angus for the Beef Finisher

Versatility:

An increasing demand for naturally reared beef and the ability of Aberdeen-Angus to finish off grass, unlike any of the larger frame Continental crosses, makes the breed a popular choice with the farmer who wishes to maximise his profits and be satisfied of a superb tasting end product for the consumer.

The breed combines medium size with earliness of maturity and high carcass yield. Its cross bred progeny are often best suited to production systems with a high dependency on forage. As well as traditional finishing methods, some dairy and suckler farmers are taking bull calves right through on a rapid finishing system. The early maturing Aberdeen-Angus bulls being ideally suited for this intensive form of production.

Means Profit:

Efficient converters of low cost feed
Get to market sooner and improve cash flow
Quality will always find a market





		Aberdeen-Angus for the Butcher and Consumer

		Carcass quality: The breed is famous for its superior carcass quality with a high ratio of lean meat to fat and bone. Fine tissues of marbling through the lean muscle, ensure tenderness, juiciness and flavour when cooked. It is those characteristics which make the breed first choice for high quality butchers, restaurants and housewives throughout the world. Choosing quality beef: Quality beef has smooth, close grained texture which enables easy and economical carving. Choose your beef with fine threads of creamy white fat interwoven throughout the lean muscle, known as marbling. Marbling is a characteristic of Aberdeen-Angus beef and prevents beef from becoming hard and leathery and ensures a superb flavour of first class beef.

Feature: David Torrens

Reduced overheads, ease of calving, and an attractive premium at slaughter, are all reasons why County Londonderry suckler herd owner, David Torrens, introduced Aberdeen-Angus bloodlines into his breeding programme

The Luddenmore herd has had great success in a short space of time and is responsible for producing some of the best performing stock in the Republic of Ireland, Chrissie Lawrence finds out what the secret to their success is

Although in its infancy in terms of pedigree breeding, the Luddenmore herd of Dr Michael and Martin Sheahan has been thought about for many years. “My father had ideas of setting up an Aberdeen-Angus herd for many years and having attended shows and sales in the UK for some time, we couldn’t have been more impressed at the high standard that had been achieved by the Angus breed,”€ comments Michael.

Switch from milking to rearing Angus calves is paying off for one Irish producer

The move from milking cows to rearing and finishing 90 head of Aberdeen-Angus cross calves a year, is definitely one that Noreen Gibney, Co Cavan, doesn’t regret. But, in order to remain profitable, she believes calculating how much these cattle are making her a month is the way to stay on top of things.

Farmer Profile: Paul Farrell

Having had experience of finishing Continental breeds Paul Farrell has now switched to breeding his own Aberdeen-Angus cross cattle, a move that he feels was a must to improve his bottom line.

Farmer Profile: William Patton

Demand for home produced quality beef has seen Northern Irish producer William Patton turn to marketing his own Aberdeen-Angus beef.

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