Chatham Belgian Blues

Lenborough Oliver 970631 Sire: Ecureuil de Biert 940687 (l) Dam: Navac Jacaranda 930194   Semen Price: £6.00 per straw   For information on other Belgian Blues visit the Belgian Blue section of our Bovex Livestock site

Selected initially as herd sire in the well recognised Chatham herd of J.M. Morrison and Son of Co. Antrim, N. Ireland, Oliver has excelled when used on the Pedigree Belgian Blues in that herd, and has proved even more impressive after his AI. Progeny test, in which calvings were recorded in random dairy herds within the six counties. 'Handsome is, handsome does’ certainly is the yardstick of this outstanding Belgian Blue, an asset whether used as a crossing sire in the dairy herd, or as sire of pedigree stock in this exciting sought after breed. The first calves inspected out of Pedigree Herds were 'brave' calves, and thus it was with this in mind that we initially collected 1000 straws for usage across a broad spectrum of dairy cows, which was the correct way to conduct ourselves when asking farmers to use a limited usage Sire. Having completed this initial survey, with excellent results, we can now shout from the rooftops and soundly advise our customers to use Oliver as their choice of Belgian Blue.

His calves are outstanding in many qualities, ...firstly they are easy born, but not small and weedy, have good width and excellent hindquarters, combined with a will to do and prosper. Colour marking of the traditional blue, so much liked in the early days of the Belgian Blue is dominant, but the greatest praise of Oliver is the comments of those who have already seen calves dropped on the ground by him....

Calving Survey (N. Ireland) March 2002

Carried out across diary herds in Northern Ireland.

Number of observed calvings– 102 in mainly Holestein Friesian and Pure British Friesian Herds.

Calves were mainly coloured blue/grey, blue and white, or white with blue blotches