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Cattle Breeders and Breed Pioneers

Joe Maxwell of Carrickbrack: The Donegal Breeder Behind Irish Charolais

Three French heifers bought in 1978 became the foundation of the Carrickbrack herd and many pedigree herds across Ireland.

Who Was Joe Maxwell?

Joe Maxwell of Carrickbrack, Convoy, Co Donegal, was a pioneer of Irish Charolais breeding. He died on 19 September 2017, and the Irish Farmers Journal obituary remembers him as a breeder, a showman and a judge. This profile uses only his public farming record.

His Carrickbrack herd became foundation stock for many pedigree herds in Ireland, which is the main reason he sits in a cattle hall of fame.

A Pedigree Farming Background

Maxwell came from a pedigree farming family, according to the farming paper's tribute. His grandfather bred pedigree Shorthorns in the early 1900s, and Joe and his father bred pedigree Angus, Hereford, Simmental and Charolais cattle. That mix shows a family willing to try the breed that fit the market of the day.

His own focus narrowed to the Charolais in the early 1970s, when he began grading up heifers to pedigree status. Grading up means mating females repeatedly to purebred sires until the offspring qualify for pedigree registration.

The 1978 French Heifers

In 1978 Maxwell went to France and bought three full French Charolais heifers. These formed the nucleus of the Carrickbrack herd. Going to the breed's home country for foundation females was a deliberate choice for a farmer wanting authentic bloodlines.

The Carrickbrack herd went on to produce many pedigree show ring prizewinners and champions. It was also successful commercially, a point the obituary stresses.

Tully, AI and All-Ireland Titles

In 1984 a herd-bred bull, Carrickbrack Ultan, was the top performer at the Tully test station. Sligo AI station later bought him, and he stood there for many years as IC24, which spread his genetics through artificial insemination.

Maxwell's commercial cattle also won big. In 1989 he took the all-Ireland young beef bullock championship with a Charolais. The same bullock won the all-Ireland two teeth bullock championship in 1990. In 1997 a commercial Charolais heifer from his herd won the all-Ireland calf championship.

The Key to Maxwell's Success

Maxwell's record shows how a breeder can build both seedstock and commercial credibility from a small base.

The obituary supports the following lessons:

  • He built on family experience with several pedigree breeds before choosing the Charolais.
  • He started by grading up heifers in the early 1970s.
  • He bought three full French heifers in 1978 as the herd's nucleus.
  • He tested his cattle, as Carrickbrack Ultan topped the Tully station in 1984.
  • He proved the cattle commercially with all-Ireland bullock and calf titles.
  • He shared knowledge, and was chosen to judge the first national Charolais calf championship.

Judge, Teacher and Friend to Young Breeders

As the obituary by Brendan McFeely records, Maxwell was chosen to judge the first national Charolais calf championship, the forerunner of the National Charolais Show. He was highly regarded as a judge of both pedigree and commercial cattle.

The obituary describes him as someone who shared his knowledge freely and was popular with young people. That mentoring role helps explain why Carrickbrack bloodlines turn up in so many herds.

Charolais and Irish Beef

The sources read do not give national herd statistics, so this page does not offer them. What they establish is that a Donegal farmer imported French foundation females and used them to build seedstock that served pedigree and commercial breeders alike.

For more on beef breeds and the people who built them, see farm.FM's ranching section and a farm.FM story about Charolais cattle.

Timeline

  1. Early 1900sHis grandfather breeds pedigree Shorthorns
  2. Early 1970sBegins grading up heifers to pedigree Charolais
  3. 1978Buys three French Charolais heifers to found the Carrickbrack herd
  4. 1984Carrickbrack Ultan tops the Tully test station
  5. 1989Wins all-Ireland young beef bullock championship
  6. 1990Same bullock wins all-Ireland two teeth bullock championship
  7. 1997Commercial heifer wins all-Ireland calf championship
  8. 2017Dies on 19 September

Frequently asked questions

Who was Joe Maxwell?

Joe Maxwell was a Charolais breeder from Convoy, Co Donegal, Ireland, who founded the Carrickbrack herd. He died on 19 September 2017.

How did the Carrickbrack herd start?

In 1978 Maxwell bought three full French Charolais heifers in France. They formed the nucleus of the Carrickbrack herd.

What was Carrickbrack Ultan?

Carrickbrack Ultan was a herd-bred bull that was top performer at the Tully test station in 1984, later bought by Sligo AI station and used as IC24.

What titles did Maxwell win?

He won the all-Ireland young beef bullock title in 1989, the two teeth bullock title in 1990, and the all-Ireland calf title in 1997.

Sources and further reading

Profiles are compiled from public sources and reviewed against them. See our editorial policy to suggest a correction.

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