Local Heifers Set For Best 'Moo-ve'

Irish Rugby star and local dairy farmer Rory Best today called on the Northern Irish public to support Bóthar Northern Ireland’s 2012 Heifer Appeal.

The appeal will see 70 local cows airlifted from Belfast to Romania this year to help create sustainable living for local communities who cannot otherwise survive.

The charity has carried out similar airlifts from the Republic of Ireland but this will be first heifer airlift from Northern Ireland. As a result Bóthar NI are looking for local dairy farmers and local people to help make this airlift a reality and make a genuine life-changing difference to people in the developing world.

Bóthar NI representative Aoibheann Fearon explains: "One Northern Irish heifer can genuinely change the lives of an entire community in the developing world. It allows a family to create a variety of products that they can use to support themselves, their community as well as providing an ongoing supply of milk to Romanian orphanages."

Bóthar NI Ambassador Rory Best added: "It’s unbelievable the difference one local heifer can make to the lives of people in other countries. The farming community in Northern Ireland is a very close knit group – we’ve always supported each other as best we can – well I’d like to ask local farmers to join me in extending that community support a little further afield this year and consider donating one of their cows to the Bóthar NI 2012 Heifer Appeal. In a time like this it’s just the right thing to do."

Ms Fearon added: "Even if you’re not a diary farmer we’d really appreciate your support. There are a large number of costs associated with getting local animals vaccinated, transported and settled in Romania and any help towards these costs would be hugely appreciated."

Anyone interested in supporting the appeal or donating a heifer should contact Bóthar NI on 028 9062 7308 or post your donation to Bóthar NI, Anna House 37a Upper Dunmurry Lane, Belfast BT17 0AJ. Heifers should be first time in-calf Holstein Friesians, preferably 30 months or younger.

(GK)