Tom O’ Riordan
As I write this the country has just experienced the most severe and stressful weather conditions with record low temperatures recorded in almost every county in Ireland. I sincerely hope that you as breeders got through this without too much hardship to both yourselves and out- wintered stock. Still on weather matters, it has to be said that the Summer of 2010 was a vast improvement on the previous two years, so let’s hope that a repeat of that same is on the cards for this year 2011.
For the Simmental breed, 2010 has been a very successful year. Both our premier sales in Roscommon mart (Spring and Autumn) were a resounding success with very strong prices achieved for both bulls and heifers with a clearance rate particularly for heifers-the highest for many years. The latest I.C.B.F. evaluation (December 2010) show that the breed is once again the number one all-round sire for suckler herds in Ireland.
Summer shows were also extremely well supported particularly the two major events namely Tullamore and Beef Expo, with the quality of animals exhibited at both at an all time high. The above mentioned did not happen by chance, it was you the breeders that brought out the animals day after day. Therefore, I want to take this opportunity to thank you most sincerely for your commitment and for promoting the breed to the highest standard. Many thanks also to our various sponsors for their generosity to our society.
Cross-bred sales during this past year have also been hugely successful and I honestly believe are going to get stronger for the coming years with the I.C.B.F data getting through to more and more commercial suckler farmers.
In conclusion, I want to take this opportunity to thank my fellow council members, past and present and a particular thank you to Peadar and Carol for their promotional and administrative work during the year. I look forward with optimism to 2011.
Tom O’ Riordan
President
