A pedigree Charolais cow and calf outfit is among the first live exports to mainland Europe. Bred by Alasdair Houston, Gretna Green, the pair has been purchased by Irish breeders, Leo McInroe, County Cavan and Richard O'Brien, County Galway.

Alasdair Houston

The outfit comprises Moyness Mistletoe, a Maerdy Impeccable daughter from the same dam line that bred the 15,000gns Moyness Lincoln. She is full sister to the 9,000gns Moyness Magnum and among the foundation cows purchased more than four years ago to restock Mr Houston's Gretnahouse pedigree Charolais herd which has since been restored to 40 breeding cows.

Mistletoe's two month old heifer, Gretnahouse Beatrice was by Gretnahouse Ultimate CH32, a Dingle Hofmeister son and maternal brother to the 10,500gns Gretnahouse Noel.

"The pair is accompanied by a tremendous cocktail of genetics, and Beatrice is already demonstrating a great deal of potential," commented Mr Houston. "Mistletoe comprises a base of very deep bloodlines, while Beatrice's sire, Gretnahouse Ultimate has tremendous power, scale, length and good fleshing ability."

He adds: "Lifting the export ban will introduce a welcome demand and subsequent price at the top end of the market for pedigree breeders who are able to offer physically good specimens, cattle with length, good fleshing ability and easy calving, and the correct health status."

British Charolais Cattle Society's David Benson adds: "This export deal is just the tip of the iceberg. We have already received enquiries from several European member states including the former Eastern Bloc, and closer to home, Ireland which until the ban was a major importer of British Charolais genetics. In the first two months of 1989, 200 head of Charolais were exported to Ireland."

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