First UK Salers export since lifting of ban
UK - The first shipment of Salers cattle to be exported from the British Isles since the lifting of the ban on cattle exports has taken place from the North of England.
2 February 2007
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Pedigree cattle from the Rigel herd of Messrs Pye, of Yarm, North Yorkshire, and also from the Cumbrian herd of Messrs Walling, of Selkirk, Roxburghshire, have been exported to the farm of Thomas and Hubertus Johlen, at Born, near Marienmunster in Germany.
The Johlens toured the UK at the end of 2006, looking specifically for polled Salers, and eventually selected in-calf heifers from the two North farms as both of these herds have polled Salers that are 100% fullblood French origin.
The Johlens gave up milking in the mid-80s, and established a herd of pedigree Galloway cattle with foundation stock coming from Scotland.
More recently, they started a herd of pedigree Salers with cattle from France, but to pursue their aim of producing cattle that are naturally born without horns, they turned to the UK where several Salers breeders have been breeding polled Salers for 10 years or more.
The Salers, which originates from the Massif Centrale region of France, is much admired there for magnificence of its lyre-shaped horns, but these present practical problems in modern farming systems, and most cattle have to be dehorned as a calf.
Cattle that are naturally polled are becoming increasingly sought after, as this avoids this task, so saving on labour, and with animal welfare benefits too.
Source: icNewcastle
