Charity calf auction to aid Cancer Research

Visitors to Holstein NI's forthcoming open day in County Armagh will have an opportunity to take home a two-month-old heifer calf.
By The Newsroom
Published 14th Apr 2016, 11:42 BST
Updated 15th Apr 2016, 10:43 BST
Dairy farmers Ivor and Cecilia Broomfield, Armagh, and Dr Kienan Savage, Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology at Queen's University, are pictured with Moneyquin Aikman Carol Red, which will be auctioned for the CCRCB charity at Holstein NI's Open Day.Dairy farmers Ivor and Cecilia Broomfield, Armagh, and Dr Kienan Savage, Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology at Queen's University, are pictured with Moneyquin Aikman Carol Red, which will be auctioned for the CCRCB charity at Holstein NI's Open Day.
Dairy farmers Ivor and Cecilia Broomfield, Armagh, and Dr Kienan Savage, Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology at Queen's University, are pictured with Moneyquin Aikman Carol Red, which will be auctioned for the CCRCB charity at Holstein NI's Open Day.

Moneyquin Aikman Carol Red will be auctioned for charity at the one-day event on Saturday 30th April.

The calf has been generously donated by hosts Ivor and Cecilia Broomfield from the 90-cow Moneyquin Herd based at Armagh.

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Born on 17th February Moneyquin Aikman Carol Red has a PLI £241, and is bred from four generations of EX and VG dams. Sired by Gen-I-Beq Aikman ET, she is bred from Moneyquin Herbie Carol EX90, who was sired by the home-bred Moneyquin Herbie ET by Canyon Breeze Allen.

“This calf comes from the home-bred Carol family, which is noted for its production, and high butterfat and protein,” explained Ivor Broomfield.

Proceeds from the open day and Holstein NI stockjudging event will be donated to CCRCB – Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology at Queen’s University in Belfast.

“We are hosting the open day to raise funds for CCRCB in memory of Cecilia’s sister, Carol Hanthorn, who lost a brave battle with breast cancer in 2014.”

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Ivor added: ”This is a charity very close to our hearts, and all money raised will help fund cancer research, and specifically research into the BRCA gene mutation which raises the risk of breast cancer.”

Dr Kienan Savage from CCRCB added: ”Improving outcomes for people with cancer lies at the heart of all our research programmes. Researchers at the centre have already developed tests to help those with hereditary breast cancer, pioneered a unique combination treatment for men with aggressive prostate cancer, and explored new ways of treating bowel cancer that has become resistant to chemotheraphy.”

The open day is expected to attract pedigree and commercial Holstein enthusiasts from throughout Ireland, and will incorporate the club’s annual stockjudging event, a variety of trade stands, and various educational and informative workshops.

Holstein NI chairman John Berry from Armagh said: “The event is generously sponsored by Ecosyl from Volac, and we are also indebted to numerous local businesses for their support. “

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The Moneyquin Herd boasts functional, well-balanced dairy cows, producing an average yield in excess of 8,500 litres of milk. In addition to the Holstein Herd, Ivor is also milking four Brown Swiss cows which hail from top USA cow families, including the renowned Snickerdoodle family.

Everyone is welcome and it promises to be a fun-filled day for all members of the family. The open day runs from 11am to 4pm, and refreshments will be available.

The farm is situated at 35 Crosskeys Road, Armagh, BT60 3JL.