At Ballygowan Blondes we recognise the benefits of showing in promoting the breed. However we are not a show herd and do not have the traditional large framed Blondes. We breed blondes to produce terminal and maternal sires for both the pedigree and commercial markets. The Ballygowan Blonde Herd was awarded the best small herd of Blondes in NI in 2019 retaining the title from 2017 and also 2014.
We have just been awarded reserve large herd 2022 having just sneaked into that section! Hollie and her heifer at foot Tilly took best cow and calf whilst Rita won best 2020 born heifer.
Maverick was reserve best stock bull in Northern Ireland 2019.
Heifers are regularly showed, a week at Balmoral show puts manners into them which stands them in good stead to be handled at any stage in the future.
We occasionally have bulls and heifers for sale - see below in the For Sale section. We only sell animals for breeding we are prepared to breed with ourselves. If they don't make our standards, you wont get a chance to buy them as they go to beef.
Ballygowan Blonde News
We had an exceptional day out at the first 4 Breed calf show in November 2021. Ballygowan Rodeo and Ballygowan Sebastion taking the red ribbons in the Senior and Junior bull classes. They also won the pairs class.
The two young bulls went from strength to strength. Rodeo was Overall Champion at the Society Spring sale at Dungannon and sold for the top price of the day of 3,600g to Lucy corner and her Lucyland Blonde Herd.
Sebastion was sold privately to Thor Atkinson, he enjoyed joining in their highly successful year in the show ring. Winning Blonde Male Champion at the Great Yorkshire Show and then emulating that at the Royal Welsh by also winning the Interbreed Male Junior Champion. We wish the new owners every success with Rodeo and Seb.
About Us
Ballygowan Pedigree Blonde herd was founded in 1979 by Robert and Sandra Gibson with the purchase of two maiden heifers from Southern Ireland. Tipperary Olive and Barrettstown Olive, they went on to breed many of the foundation bloodlines in Ballygowan progeny today.
We are a family run farm and have built up the herd slowly. It is a closed herd for health status reasons, apart from the careful selection of herd sires.
These include: Homebred Ballygowan Viceroy, a heifers calf weighing 704Kg at 400 days out of a Sandbrook cow.
Classic Caesar, sired by Broomfield Taurus and then Carn Gordon, a Fortescue Augustus son weighing 730Kg at 400 days.
Ballygrainey Jack (Ballygowan Nobles Sire) by Whistley Dollar, Blackwater Nebus by Febus, Glenvale Tarzan by Droit Ocean. Ballygowan Rambo, a Nebus son, then Budore Donald, Classic Intel by Utah. Ark Maverick (By Dollar, pictured below), Budore Rolo out of Garnet - 2024 calves will all be by him. Hallfield Titan is now running with the calved cows.
Breeding and farm management at Ballygowan
At Ballygowan we believe in maximum production from forage, for this reason we select easy fleshing genetics to breed cattle that do not need concentrates. We had been Ai'ing heifers to easy calving bulls such as our old stock bull Ark Maverick or related heifers are being Ai'd to Bridge Obama. Only easy fleshing, growthy heifers with good pelvic measurements are retained for breeding - production in the form of food conversion and reproduction are two traits we value highly.
Animal Health
We have been a member of the AFBI Cattle Health Scheme for eleven years and accredited free of Lepto (since 2014), Johnes risk Level 1 (since 2014) and Vaccinated Monitored Free (VMF) of both BVD and IBR (2018 & 2016 respectfully). We have also screened clear of Neospora too. AFBI CHeCS certificates available upon request.Stock for sale
We have recently sold two O My sons, Ballygowan Thor & Titan. Both being sold to pedigree breeders in England. Ballygowan Texas, sired by Baltra Iceman was recently sold at the Spring 24 society sale at Dungannon Farmers Mart.
Texas won the NI Blonde Cattle Club Calf Championship Final held at Clogher Valley Show in late July 23.
Next up is Ballygowan Ultra, born in Feb 23 is by Budore Rolo and is very correct and quiet young bull - out of Ballygowan Hollie - dam of Sebastion.
We have recently sold 2 bulling heifers to Drumnafern Blondes. Ballygowan Starlight and Tori, both sired by O-My. We have a few bulling and weaned heifers for sale and usually have cow and calf outfits for sale too. Get in touch for more information.
Semen and Embryos for sale
Export grade semen off stock bull Budore Donald is now sold out from Ai services.
Semen for use in Northern Ireland (farm collection) can be purchased direct from David on 07714402555.
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