Balmoral Show 2015: Beef Shorthorn take interbreed title

Lowtown Ireland, a two year old Beef Shorthorn bull bred by Dungannon breeder Dominic Dorman, has been crowned this year’s Balmoral Beef Inter-Breed Champion.

It was the first ever Balmoral interbreed title for Mr Dorman, who is noted more as a breeder of British Blonde cattle, only having two Shorthorn cows.

Ireland was shown at Balmoral last year as a junior, but did not overly impress. However, he went on to win the Shorthorn Championship at six local shows last summer. Sired by Carrarock Johnny he is out of Tirnoney Orphan Florence.

“The interest in Shorthorn cattle goes back to my mother, who had a real love for the breed. The bull’s sire hails from the Carrorock herd in Co Galway.

“But it was only when I cleaned him up at the end of last winter that I realised his full potential.”

The initial plan for the bull is to draw semen from him over the coming months.

“After that we will see what happens. If someone writes me a big enough cheque then he’s for sale.”

In reserve and continuing her success after taking the heifer championship at Balmoral last year was the three-year-old Charolais cow Wesley Glamorous, exhibited by the Connolly family from Co Down.

She was shown with her five-week-old bull calf at foot – Brigadoon Lancelot, sired by the Connolly’s stock bull, Royal Capital.

Sired by Balthayock Aesop she was bought as a calf with her dam Wesley Acute from the Wesley Estate dispersal for 8,000gns.

“Glamorous has proven that she can produce one calf per year,” said Albert Connolly.

“This is a fundamental requirement of every suckler cow. Lancelot is her second calf, born five weeks ago. The fact that Glamorous can win her breed title and then fare so well against the other breeds is testimony to her beefing qualities. Our aim is to breed from her for as long as possible.”