Irish Hereford Prime member John Appelbe farms in county Cork, where his family has bred Hereford cattle since 1901. In this interview, John discusses his farming system and the qualities that make the breed well suited to Irish farms.
John takes up the story:
I farm in Carrigroe, Co. Cork, where my family has been breeding Hereford cattle since 1901, when my great-grandfather, Henry Appelbe, first bought the land.
We produce about 70 bulls a year on the farm, most are sold to dairy farmers, suckler farmers and AI stations, we’ve had relationships with our buyers over many generations.
We have a proud heritage of breeding champions. In 2010 we won national champion with Udel 1 T62 Webb Ellis, in 2017 we won national champion with Solpoll 1 Lawman and in 2025, we won national champion with Appel Uno PP.
The Hereford bulls we breed here are very suitable to dairy beef, they are easy calving with a short gestation, they have incredible growth rates, and they have an early age of finishing. We always get a very positive response from our customers and anyone who buy our young bulls.
I believe it’s essential to stay closely connected to our customers and pay attention to what they value. The Irish marketplace is always evolving, and we’re committed to moving with it. For example, eating quality is a top priority for consumers and that focus guides the decisions we make on the farm to consistently produce beef of exceptional quality.
I really like the Hereford cow, they are an easy cow to work with, they are very docile and are great mothers.
On the farm we are always working to improve our environmental impact, we are seeding clover in the sward for improved grass quality, and trailing shoe for slurry spreading, to reduce the environmental impact of our farm.
I strongly recommend the Hereford breed, we’ve had them here for generations and their docility is exceptional, they are easy cattle to work with, and they are a pleasure to be around. Above all they are good for the Irish beef system.
I have been told by top chefs’ time and time again that Irish Hereford Prime beef is the top in the world, it is consistently the best and always gets great reviews from consumers.
