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In 2013 Andrew had the Ace pigeon winning £1000 for the bird with the best average over the five hot spots and the final race, missing out on the overall prize of £12,500 by two minutes. In 2015 Andrew had five birds home in the final top 50 from Roscarberry, Southern Ireland, with only 87 finishing in what was a hard race with birds racing in to a strong north wind.
Andrew races six pigeons every year in this race as an advert of the kind of pigeons he breeds and their success in strong head winds is a strong selling point. Since becoming a stud pigeon breeder numbers have risen to 170, which Andrew admits is too many.
Breeding stock is sourced from Belgium and up to 40 pairs of birds are lined up to lay within a week of each other, with only two youngsters being reared per nest. Each bird can rear between six and eight young a year, which allows groups of up to 10 to be made up for selling.
“Birds are sold for between £50 and £100 each and up to 150 youngsters are sold a year. My best investment was buying four young birds out of a pigeon called Rosie at £50 each. Rosie was sold at auction for £14,000, so we decided to sell the progeny we had. Two made £500 each, one made £750 and one £1750, which was a quick profit.” Pigeons he has sold are regularly winning all over the country. However, he does admit that he tries to sell them away from his local club so he doesn’t compete against his own breeding.
As well as helping his son James run the dairy herd Andrew also has the pigeons to feed, water, exercise and pair up. “Pigeons need managing like all other animals with the main health treatments being to prevent coccidiosis and worms.” Andrew’s decision to breed rather than race pigeons was
made when James became more interested in cows and wanted time to be able to show cows from the Parkshaw herd which comprises 110 milkers.
Following the purchase of 12 heifer calves at the Highoaks dispersal in 2011, James became more interested in investing in proven families. Purchases have been made from Sterndale, Stardale and Grayridge, as well as stock bulls Richaven Regatta the current stock bull, an Explode son out of Richaven Rapture Rebecca, and Carhall Rocket, a Shottle son, which bred well with a lot of his daughters sold as surplus heifers. A few other bulls have also been sourced from the Arnot and Newabbey herds.
The herd now has the Vaakje, Papoose, Erle, Rae, Rosie and Emily families, including
Sterndale Jasp Papoose, Sterndale Snowy Rae and Peak Dusk Sid Rhapsody. The McAuleys aim is to keep trying to improve the herd and be recognised breeders one day. Highlights for the Parkshaw herd include a flush of 21 grade A eggs by Meridian and Mascalese out of Sterndale Jasp Papoose. While, the herd’s best classification to date was of eight two year old heifers two scored VG86, four VG85 and two GP84.
Although not too imminent Andrew hopes to return to racing pigeons when he retires. “Hopefully retirement will bring the extra time needed to train birds for racing. There is a great amount of achievement gained from having birds fly 454 miles from France or 354 from Penzance in a race.”
Also in the herd is Sterndale Snowy Rae.
Andrew’s grandson is keen to help on the farm.
One of several females purchased is Sterndale Jasp Papoose, who produced 21 eggs on her first flush.
Pigeons are sourced from Belgium and Andrew’s stock are highly sought after across the UK.
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