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The Irish Normande Dual Purpose Cattle Breed Society

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Sponsored By

• Ease of Calving - Milk Production - High Fertility

• High Milk Contents - Good Beef Qualities - Easily Maintained

• Docile Disposition - Eligible For Suckler Premium - Attractive Red & White Cattle

INTRODUCTION
Normande, one of the premier great dual purpose breeds of the world,
is today becoming more and more proficient. The breed demonstrates
that in matters of milk production breeds with a dual purpose potential
are able to show a supplementary advantage over breeds that specialise
solely in milk production.

Its quiet temperament, ease of calving, ease of handling and its aptitude
to convert grass feed in an economic fashion allows it to adapt to
all climates and altitudes.

It is found in the Ardennes, the Pyrenees, the arid zones, the humid
tropical zones and is well established in Latin America which proves
the Normande breed has a great capacity to adapt. The breed has been
established more than 100 years in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay,
Uruguay and Venezuela. They have also developed in Europe, particularly
in Belgium, Switzerland, Great Britain and recently in Ireland, and
they can also be found in the United States, Madagascar, Mexico and
soon in Japan.

A PLACE FOR NORMANDE IN IRELAND
The Normande is an attractive read and white dual purpose breed.
Normande is good for milk production. Yields of 6,500 kgs at 4% fat
and 3.6% protein are common place in France. They are also good for
beef and very good on fertility and they are docile. On average Normande
cows will be 500 kg to 700 kg lower in milk yields than Holsteins
but because of the higher milk solids and the higher values of the
calf and cull cows the Normande herd owner has the same or improved
net income which is born out by the trial on going in Castlelyons.
The Normande bull calf is reckoned to be worth $150 more than its
Holstein counterpart at 2 - 3 weeks old.

TRIAL IN CASTLELYONS
Three years ago Waterford Co-Op decided to look at ways of helping
their suppliers improve profit margins on their farms. Three batches
of heifers were bought in, Normande, Montbeliarde, and High RBI Dutch
Holsteins. Their performances were measured alongside the Castlelyons
animals. Cows calved down in Spring of '96'. Milk yield in 1997
for Normande is heading for over 1,000 gals. and with protein levels
in the region of 3.6 percent on 500 kgs meal. The trial work being
carried out by Waterford also looks at the financial implications
of each breed from the average Waterford supplier based on 80 acres
with 42,000 gallon quota and male progeny carried to beef.
In estimating the profit implications, the following assumptions were
made, dual purpose cattle achieving a factory price premium of £100
over ordinary Freisiens; Dutch cattle carrying a price penalty of
£30 per head over own breed and no butterfat levy imposed. The comparisons
show that the Normande herd provide for and increase in net profit
of £6,277, the Montbeliarde herd increase was £4,796 and the high
RBI herd increase was £1,748 over own bred cattle.

NORMANDE AS A BEEF BREED
In the Spring of '97 Normande / Freisian cross calves have fetched
an average price of £175 for bull calves - 3 weeks old approx. This
represents a difference of 80 - 100 over Freisien / Holstein bull
calves. Other beef breeds have also been bred to Normande bulls and
have produced calves of exceptional quality.
In many of the countries mentioned above, Normandes have been exported
to, they are primarily used as suckler cows. The reason being - their
Material Traits. Normande females have good fertility mammary conformation,
mothering ability and production longevity. They have large pelvic
areas and calve easily with calves showing excellent vigour and most
birth weights of 40 - 50 kgs approx. You won't find more productive
females anywhere and half blood Normande cows are exceptional commercial
beef cows when crossed with almost any beef breed.
With their rich milk, Normande pure-bred and crossbred cows produce
calves with rapid growth rates. This rapid growth rate will continue
on high roughage feed. Normande bull and half blood cows will increase
your weaning and yearling weights and do it efficiently.

BREEDING PROGRAMME
There is also an extensive breed improvement programme with the Normande
breed which embraces both beef and dairy traits. The Normande breed
originated in France where there is now a very high density in the
areas of Normandy, Brittany and Maine. Normande cattle are selected
through a system of data collection, processing information, strict
selection schemes and artificial insemination.
All data enable the best females of the breed - in respect to milk
yield and conformation - to be chosen annually. The French selection
plan has the end result of mating eight bull sires to 1,000 bull dams.
Of the 500 bull calves produced by the 1,000 bull dams, 400 are selected
for protesting stations for feed conversion, growth, conformation,
sperm quality and spermatogenesis. The bull's progeny are tested
for milk yields and conformation. A final committee decides on the
acceptance or rejection of each bull tested. Sixty bulls are selected
for semen stock, then eight of the 60 are used for mating with the
bull dams. In the end, 1.6 percent of the bulls and .04 percent of
the cows are used for breeding.

"The Irish Normande Dual Purpose Cattle Breed Society, will continue
to promote the breed in Ireland and work to maintain the high standards
of selection for both milk and beef traits. We see the Normande dual
purpose breed as a viable option for farmers in Ireland in the future."

Post:
Att: Michael Redmond
Irish Normande
Dual Purpose Cattle Breed Society,
Ballingate, Carnew, Co. Wicklow

Email: normande@eircom.net

Tel: 055 26462

Fax: 055 26462