Innovation Unleashed – NCBC Hereford Genetics take Center Stage
NCBC Hereford Genetics dominated at the National Hereford Calf Show that was held on Sunday the 9th of November 2025.
The atmosphere at the National Calf Show was electric this year, but amid the high-calibre competition, one name resonated with consistent success across multiple rings: The National Cattle Breeding Centre (NCBC). The exceptional performance of the NCBC sired progeny is a powerful testament to the foresight and precision of the Organization’s truly innovative breeding program.
NCBC, through its shareholders Progressive Genetics and Munster Bovine, runs Ireland’s largest and most successful beef and dairy breeding programmes. The NCBC Hereford breeding programme has always been marked by its innovative developments over the years.
In particular, NCBC has put huge efforts into identifying bloodlines, especially in the UK that would provide outcross breeding opportunities for Irish Breeders. This was especially evident at the National Hereford Calf Show which was, as always, extremely well organized and ran by the Irish Hereford Breed Society.
Several of the top show winning animals were sired by NCBC Hereford bulls which are marketed exclusively in Ireland by Progressive Genetics and Munster Bovine.
Senior Female and Overall Female Champion was awarded to ‘Fisher 1 Profile’ (HE5346) daughter, ‘Appel Firecracker PP’, bred by John Appelbe, Clonakilty, Co. Cork
- The Ultimate Hereford sire; calving easy, short gestation, super quality, colour & homozygous polled.
Junior Female Champion was awarded to ‘Fabb 1 Northern Star’ (HE4297) daughter, ‘Corndarragh Ivy 20572 PP’ bred by Shane Larkin, Tullamore, Co. Offaly.
- Exceptionally easy calving and short gestation with progeny also displaying excellent style and shape.
Commercial Champion was awarded to a ‘Barwise 1 Ricochet’ (HE5455) son, bred by Kathleen P O’ Reilly, Kells Co. Meath, owned by Aine O’ Sullivan
- Only 3% Calving Difficulty on dairy cows
- Proven for calving and beef traits
- Eligible for the Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme
Other Hereford sires from the NCBC Breeding Programme that had outstanding progeny at the calf show included ‘Gouldingpoll 1 Nijinski Pp’ and ‘Midford 1 Whizzbang PP’. These two bulls are highly valued for their winning combination of outcross pedigrees and their proven ability to sire quality animals.
NCBC – The National Cattle Breeding Centre) operates the dairy & beef breeding programmes that breed, source and progeny test the beef and dairy bulls whose semen is exclusively available through Progressive Genetics and Munster Bovine in Ireland.
Solnua was established to market and distribute these same genetics internationally.
