Bound for pastures new, a consignment of 20 in-calf pedigree Limousin heifers from Mr Allan Jenkinson set out from Whinfell Park, Penrith, Cumbria on Friday 28th July 2006 en route for Poland.

Heifers on their way to Poland

It was Chester-based Alex Park who sourced the cattle from Estate Manager Nick Scholefield and then handed the deal to the long-established Dutch livestock exporters, Firma Schaap, for their customer in Poznan, Poland. It is expected that this is the first in a long line of shipments to EU accession countries and new member states like Poland where government grants are available to establish pedigree and commercial beef herds from what have traditionally been predominantly dairy herds.

Having brought Holsteins into the North of England the previous day, slick timing meant that the Limmies could be loaded onto the same wagon and trailer which otherwise would have returned empty. This meant that costs could be kept to a minimum and a deal struck that saw both parties delighted with their respective returns. “Everything went smoothly from the transport side and DEFRA were very helpful in taking us through the Health protocols,” commented Alex Park. He added: “With two drivers on hand and the animals able to be fed and watered in the state-of-the-art wagon, the cattle will be in their new home in Poland within just 26 hours.”

Whinfell Park is home to a 100 strong herd of pedigree Limousin females who share the 1,700 acre Eden Valley estate with 3,200 breeding ewes.  Herd Manager, Colin Soutter, added that the two-and-a-half year old Limousin heifers were born and bred on the Estate and were mainly by the sires Ryedale Orion and Pablo. They are due to calve in a three week period this coming December. In June 2005, Whinfell Park staged Northsheep, the National Sheep Association’s Northern region’s specialist event attended by an estimated 10,000 visitors as well as hosting a spectacular cattle day in August 2004 during the International Limousin Congress.

Commenting, British Limousin Cattle Society Development Manager Richard Saunders said: “The easing of the restrictions means we are able to add live cattle exports to our semen and embryo sales as part of our targeted export initiative. Continuing this drive, Limousin cattle will be represented at the major European trade shows in Germany, Poland and Romania in the autumn of 2006.”

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