Bóthar is looking for calves
Bóthar’s Spring Calf Appeal is now live and we are asking farmers to donate a female Friesian calf that can be reared and put in-calf, so that in approximately 18 months time, the in-calf heifer will be ready to be sent to a struggling family in the developing world.
Last year over 50 farmers pledged calves through this appeal. These will be put in-calf next year and will travel to our projects in Africa and Eastern Europe in our Autumn land and airlifts. Pledges made to us this year will go towards 2020’s programmes. By receiving female calf donations we can plan and it means waiting recipient farmers will know that they have been accepted into our training programme.
This is one of Bóthar’s most successful appeals and Bóthar’s Pat Mullins is hopeful that it will be well supported in 2019.
This is a great way for farmers to donate to Bóthar. They are giving the gift of an animal and will hear feedback over the course of the lifetime of the animal detailing the difference their calf made.
Every family that receives an Irish dairy cow notices an immediate difference in their lives when their heifer calves and starts to produce milk. Irish dairy cows give up to 20 litres of milk per day, whereas for example in Rwanda, the local, indigenous cow produces just one litre per day. The income earned from the sale of surplus milk means better health, a better standard of living and better education prospects.
I recently visited our dairy cow projects in Rwanda with a farmer from Kerry, Tim Moynihan, who was there to see the difference his gift of a dairy cow had made. The minute he saw her, he knew she was once his and her calf the same. When a farmer donates an animal, they know that their cow is going to make a difference, but I think it’s heartening to see just how much of a transformation a cow makes. You can’t help but be impressed.
Calves donated by farmers and community groups from all over the country will be brought to Shelton Abbey Open Prison, Co. Wicklow and Loughan House Open Prison, Co. Cavan, where there will be hand-reared by inmates for the next 18 months as part of their farming training programme. Once they mature, they will be transported to needy families in the developing world, each of whom will receive expert training in livestock care before receiving their animal. Each family that receives the gift of an Irish dairy heifer agrees to pass-on the first-born female calf to another needy family.
Over the last seven years, just over 600 calves have been generously donated to the ‘Spring Calf Appeal’ by farmers, business people, schools and community groups across the country.
If you would like to donate a dairy calf to Bóthar please contact Pat Mullins, Bóthar on Freephone 1800 268 463 or email patmullins@bothar.ie
The Spring Calf Appeal will run until 31st March 2019.
ENDS
For further information please contact: Pat Mullins 061 41 41 42 / 087 7933694