A Bred Herd, Not A Fed Herd

We sell 20 to 30 bulls a year, mostly at 12-15 months into suckler, dairy and pedigree herds. Recently an Eileenmere son out of a Hogan daughter was sold for £10,000 at 1 year old.

Herd management at Nightingale is non labour intensive and as simplistic as possible. The cattle need to develop naturally and the belief is that big cattle must be good and good cattle must be functional. All our efforts are directed at breeding an efficient and profitable animal for the farmer and to develop a carcass that will produce the finest quality eating meat for the consumer. To this end we concentrate on depth of muscle on a large frame and structured soundness while maintaining fertility and calving ease. We aim at a type that has length, cleanness through the lower part of the body producing a higher ratio of red meat to waste. The females are feminine, upheaded, big, beefy, structurally correct and with good udders. For 30 years Nightingale females calved at two years old and are fed only grass and silage.

The herd is now closed except for a particular female or bull that may be necessary. Our main aim and direction is to line breed to produce a pure animal that is dependable and predictable which will be easier to merchandise with evaluated facts and not anticipation. Today, much emphasis is placed on official records and we are proud of our achievements - without abandoning our beliefs.

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