A day in the life of
Mark Henry
Katie Davidson interviews up and coming cattle fitter and successful HYB member Mark Henry from the Mostragee herd in Northern Ireland
N
ineteen year-old Mark Henry is a fifth generation farmer and now runs the 180-head herd with his Dad Tommy. The herd was upgraded to pedigree in 1992 by Mark’s Dad who had an interest in pedigrees and since then Mark has driven the herd forward in the past three years buying in heifers and embryos to add new lines and improve the genetics in the herd.
Mark first took independence on the farm at 14 years old taking an interest in showing and started to clip himself. Leaving school at 16, he studied for one year at Greenmount College gaining a Level Two Diploma in Agriculture. During this time he also took charge of all the breeding decisions in the herd. In 2011 Mark purchased Glamour Iota Ambrosia privately and she has been the most successful acquisition to date. She has flushed well and since calving in June has performed well too. Families that have been invested in are the Belles from Southland, Rosinas, Froukje, Irene, Avis, Fern, Pledge, Altitude, Kitty, Elena, Dellia and Judy, while the best homebred families are Nancy, Louise, Invite and Ellie. Currently Mostragee Matson Nancy is regarded the best cow in the herd having been reserve champion at Ballymoney and Ballymena Shows, as well as qualifying for the McLarens Cow of the Year. The herd which averages 9200kg at 4.26%bf and 3.31%p has recently started milking three times a day to benefit cow health and increase yield.
“Since changing to three times a day we’ve noticed an increase of four litres a cow a day and noticed that heifers are performing better than previously,” reckons Mark.
Mark has a passion and enthusiasm for good cows and is always looking to improve and develop that herd through the introduction of new families and corrective mating and hopes to increase numbers to 200 in the next few years. A keen member of Northern Ireland HYB, Mark has recently represented HYB at the Open Junior Show in Cremona where he won the senior section overall having finished first in the showmanship and clipping. At the Weekend Rally this year Mark clipped for the A-team, finishing first in the clipping and then overall winning team. This was a move up for him after winning the B team clipping in 2013.
This year he stood reserve champion handler at the Northern Ireland Calf Show qualifier and went on to finish second at the All Breeds All Britain Calf Show. He also qualified Mostragree Silver Invite who stood second and reserve champion at the qualifier going on to finish seventh in the October and November born class at the finals.
30 THE JOURNAL DECEMBER 2014
PHOTOGRAPHY BY RICHARD HODGSON, AGRIPHOTO AND
MOOANDBAA.COM
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