Christmas cracker exile leaves 1.04 calves per cow in his first year 1/11/2014

Christmas cracker exile leaves 1.04 calves/cow in his first year 1/11/2014
Bellingham Goldfinger was purchased at 2012 Charolais Christmas cracker show and sale in Carrick – On – Shannon. Sired by ‘Pirate’ out of a ‘Nelson’ bred dam, the bull’s first progeny hit the ground in December 2013. Out of the 55 cows that calved down to Goldfinger, there was a remarkable return of 57 calves. His owner can only describe his new sire a ‘joy to behold’. ‘The ease of calving of Goldfinger has seen the calving interval of my herd reduce to 366 days, simply because he is so easy on the cows at calving. The cows calved easily and went back in calf quickly, just what I want.’ The cows on the farm which are predominantly Simmental and Charolais cross are clicking perfectly with the new sire.


Not only does Goldfiner bring ease of calving and improve fertility within the herd. The growth rate of his first calves from birth has been astonishing. The heifers weighed in at 380kgs on average at weaning, meaning they gained on average 1.4kg/day from birth. The bulls weighed in at 430kgs on average at weaning, meaning they gained on average 1.52kg/day from birth. These growth rates have been achieved off grass alone and really highlight what can be done in suckler herds if the bull, the cows and the management are correct.


   Progeny of Bellingham Goldfinger