One of the largest exports of Herefords from Northern Ireland has seen 13 cattle join six herds spread throughout France.

Following a successful visit by breeders in April, eight bulls and five maiden heifers arrived after a long journey in late May with all the purchases coming from the Solpoll herd of John and William McMordie from Ballygowan, Co Down.

Despite being the home of the continentals, Herefords are gaining rapid popularity in France with the country hosting the 2022 European Conference. Keen to add proven genetics that will be new to France, all six herds purchased at least one bull with nine of the purchases being sired by the herds home-bred stock bulls, Solpoll 1 Promoter and Solpoll 1 Real Good. Purchased at between 11 and 16 months they were from some of the leading cow families in the 70 cow herd.

Commenting on the sale, John McMordie said: “This is our first volume sale of Herefords to mainland Europe since heifers went to Sweden in 1970. Being able to supply bulls by different sires was important as was high health status and good Breedplan figures. Bulls from the herd regularly sell to Great Britain and Southern Ireland with others going to France and Spain in recent years, but with exports from GB to Europe currently more difficult we hope this market will increase in the coming years.”