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LOUGH NEAGH IRISH MOILED CATTLE GROUP
MISSION STATEMENT
“To support the production and sale of Irish Moiled rare breed beef from the shores of Lough Neagh”
ABOUT IRISH MOILED
One of the oldest surviving indigenous breeds and native to Northern Ireland, the Irish Moiled Cattle or ‘Moile’ is blessed with distinctive markings. Freckle faced, the hornless or polled breed is usually red with a touch of white on its back. Named from the Gaelic ‘maol’ due to the unique dome on its head, in 1000AD the Vikings are said to have raided the breed which can still be found in Scandinavia today.
In 1926, The Irish Moiled Cattle Society was established to develop the breed and its popularity grew at the Royal Ulster Show. The first registration described the breed as having dual purpose as it produced a remarkable milk yield and superbly tender marbled beef. Although economical for Ulster hill farmers to keep on poor land, due to its dual purpose, the breed suffered a sharp decline. In 1982 The Society, which had declined in line with the cattle, was revived and is today operated from the Republic Of Ireland.
Placed on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust ‘critical’ list more than 40 years ago, this endangered breed can survive on a diet foraged from its habitat making Moiled Cattle perfectly at home in a field of rough grass and weeds. Today every animal must now be DNA profiled and parentage proved before registration. There are approx 800 breeding Irish Moiled Cattle females alive today and although having faced many challenges in its history, it is bred across the British Isles with some rare breed enthusiasts including King Charles said to be among its owners.
ABOUT OUR GROUP
The Lough Neagh Partnership is a non-profit charitable organisation made up of representatives of bodies and stakeholders interested in the development and protection of Lough Neagh – the largest freshwater Lough in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Based in Ballyronan.
The Lough Neagh Partnership markets and promotes Lough Neagh and it’s Waterways as a tourism destination, manages the Lough Shore Cycle Trail and Canoe Trail and is responsible for protecting and managing the environment through various projects.
In 2020 Lough Neagh Irish Moiled Cattle Group was established when the Partnership brought together a group of Irish Moiled Cattle Farmers from the shores of Lough Neagh. The group believes that there is a strong need to develop a supply chain and marketing strategy to showcase this delicious marbled beef for people of NI to enjoy and to highlight the significant environmental impacts of farming this native breed on the shores of Lough Neagh.
The Lough Neagh Partnership operates with funding support under the Agri-Food Co-operation Scheme which is being managed by Countryside Services Ltd on behalf of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.
The group meets every couple of months and some meetings are held on the farms of group members or online. Onsite meetings provide a great opportunity for other group members to learn about each other’s farming practices. Group training courses take place regularly and this has increased member skills.
Cost of membership
At present there is no cost to be a member, this may change in the future.
