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TOP TYPE FOCUS FOR ERNEVALE


Seamus and Angela


Gunn’s daughters Laura, Karen and Ciara all show an interest in the farm.


Photography by Jane Steel and Mooandbaa


ype has always been the focus for Derrylin, Co Fermanagh-based Seamus Gunn who established the Ernevale herd 30 years ago. Having left school and taken on the running of the 70 acre farm at 16 years old following the loss of his father, Seamus


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initially graded up the herd and bought individual cows at Northern Irish Club sales. Seamus then became part of FAST breeders. “I became part of a group of breeders that purchased about 200 embryos each year from Bovitec,” explains Seamus. “This gave


me the opportunity to get in to a number of proven families. I have strict criteria before purchasing any females or embryos – there has to be a deep pedigree with generations of classification, without classification to back up a pedigree there is no purchase. I also look for milk quality.” Classifying is a way of highlighting weaknesses in the cows, he says “Classifying gives me an insight into what can be improved, as well as the financial gain on progeny. Currently the herd is averaging 89.5 points, with 40 cows in the herd there are 22 Excellent cows, 14 Very Good and four GP cows and heifers.


Ernevale MJ Rosina is the highest classified cow at Ernevale to date at EX95-8E.


“Our highest classified cow in the herd is Ernevale Stormatic Rosina EX94-6E. One of my classifying highlights has to be in January this year when I had four homebred cows classified


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