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Priorities: 50% of the Barleyfield
Beef herd is sired by Bootine Simmental bulls. All Bootine
cattle are registered on breedplan.
The following priorities drive our bull and heifer selection
procedures.
200-Day wieghts: The desire to achieve
maximum weaner weights enables Bootine calves to be directed
to a number of alternative market options. The carcase feedback
from our Barleyfield beef calves is critical to our selection.
Milk production in the females: It was
the desire to lift the milk production in the predominantly
British Breed females that encouraged Arthur to invest in
the Simmental breed. Milky females produce sappy calves for
Barleyfield Beef.
Ease of calving: There is no profit in
a dead calf .
Muscularity and Fertility: The Bootine
herd consists of 100 cows. Breeding heifers are selected on
calving as yearlings. Although polled cattle have been the
nucleus of the herd, the polled characteristic comes second
to productivity.
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