Irish Moiled Cattle Society Breeders Day at Betton House
Irish Moiled breeders made their way to Betton House on Sat 5th July to view the Betton herd of Irish Moileds owned by Nathalie & Christopher Chitty as well as stroll around the beautiful gardens.
Nathalie welcomed the group and gave an insight into why she choose the Irish Moiled breed.
Nathalie and Christopher Chitty moved to Betton House, Betton, Shropshire in Oct 2017, having spent their first 30 years of married life in London. Betton House is a beautiful Georgian house set in mature landscaped gardens, on 71 acres of organic pastureland.
School holidays were opportunities to spend time away from London at Nathalie’s family home just outside Downpatrick, County Down in a Georgian House called ‘Ballydugan’.
A previous owner of ‘Ballydugan’ who was mentioned many times in the Irish Moiled history, was Major G Percevel Maxwell who is 1949 founded the ‘Ballydugan’ herd and was arguably instrumental in saving the Irish Moileds from extinction. It is perhaps homage to Major G Percevel Maxwell that Nathalie is pursuing goals and ambitions that resonate with the aspirations of a past generation who worked so hard to ensure the Irish Moiled breed legacy continues.
Betton House has a courtyard of stables that were used in the 1780’s by the Duke of Sutherland, above the stables are three cottages which were renovated by Nathalie and Christopher and available as holiday lets through AirBnB. During covid Bothy cottage was let to someone from Northern Ireland who works in the farming industry and it was through this person that they alerted Nathalie about the first ever online H & H Magnificent Moilie auction being held in September 2020. Having successfully bidding on and securing their first Irish Moiled Clandeboye Dora from Clandeboye Estate, Bangor, County Down which ultimately led to Mark Logan, Clandeboye Farm Estate Manager at that time who put Nathelie and Christopher in touch with Rachel Armour owner of the Beagh herd, Maghera in mid Ulster whom they purchased their second Irish Moiled Tully Lola. Nathalie and Christopher have mainly purchased their Irish Moileds through the H & H Magnificent Moilies online sale with the Betton herd now comprising of twenty four Irish Moileds.
The Betton Irish Moileds are outwintered, during the winter they are fed silage which is produced on the Betton farm, a small amount of nuts which is mainly for handling purposes as it makes the animals more quieter and easier for moving from pasture to pasture , as they follow very willingly after a yellow bucket. The Chitty’s have found the Irish Moilies to be hardy and a healthy breed, in the heart of the winter the frost can be seen on their back, and yet it doesn’t affect the Irish Moileds, they get on with it, happy and content to eat the silage or browse on whatever else is in the field and hedges, Nathalie commented how well the Irish Moileds look after the winter, especially when they are outwintered.
Irish Moileds are predominately used in non-intensive, environmentally friendly systems. The Irish moileds have proven to be one of the best breeds for conservation grazing. Light on foot, hardly, they enjoy a wide range of forage. Their grazing helps encourage growth of a wide range of flora and their ability to graze down unwanted gorse and flammable plants, which is now an ever-increasing necessity in the current climate conditions
The goal for Nathalie is to keep breeding quality females that are true to the Irish Moiled breed. Young bulls are reassessed at around six months as to whether they are suitable to be kept for breeding.
Nathalie wants to produce her own Irish Moiled beef boxes ensuring customers get high quality sustainable beef which oozes flavour. Breeders who attended the farm walk at Betton House were the first to get the opportunity to try Betton Irish Moiled burgers. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the Irish Moiled burgers, many commenting ‘ wouldn’t usually eat a burger but you would definitely want to eat these burgers again, great flavour” Mark and Hannah did a fantastic job cooking the Irish Moiled burgers on the bbq.
After the lunch the breeders were taken on a tour around the gardens while making their way to the dutch barn where Steven & Helen along with Steven’s father Barney (Keadyview Cattle Grooming) gave a talk and a very informative grooming demonstration on a beautiful Irish Moiled ‘Ballylinney Alice’, breeders got the opportunity to ask lots of questions and get advice.
Next on the agenda of the breeders day was to view the Betton herd of Irish Moileds. As the group approached the Betton Irish Moileds who were either lying or grazing it was very noticeable how quiet they were. Breeders were able to walk through the cattle with the cattle basically paying no heed as if it was normal to have a large group walk through their field.
Returning to the beautiful house and garden breeders got treated to refreshments duly served by the attentive Chas a lifelong friend of Nathalie, this was served with an array of home baked cakes made by Chas and Linda Bull.
The day was to conclude with a talk from the Irish Moiled Cattle Society President Mark Logan and concluding thanks from Irish Moiled Cattle Society Chairperson Michelle McCauley.
On behalf of the Irish Moiled Cattle Society we would like to once again to thank Nathalie & Christopher for hosting the IMCS breeders day along with the help and guidance from IMCS vice chairperson Dan Bull and IMCS GB director Chris Ball. To Steven, Helen and Barney for taking time out of their busy schedule to give a talk and grooming demonstration, to Mark, Hannah, Chas and Linda for making sure everyone got a lovely lunch and tea and to all the directors, breeders and visitors who came along and attended the event.
