Farm Labourer Wanted

Maxwell Livestock Ltd. is one of the oldest and most trusted International livestock export companies in Ireland. Established in 1954 it now stems across 3 generations steeped in tradition, experience, and expertise.

We are seeking a competent farm operative who will be responsible for the daily maintenance and upkeep of our busy livestock export yard in county Roscommon. Candidates must have a can-do attitude with the ability to work on their own initiative or as part of our team.

Experience with machinery is essential and with livestock preferable. Candidates must have a full clean driver’s license.

Duties include:

General animal husbandry
Farm upkeep and maintenance
Machinery work

The position may suit a person with previous farming experience or perhaps a farmer looking for an additional income in a role that could combine with their own farm enterprise.

Permanent position, hours and salary will be discussed upon interview.

Immediate Start

Applicants should submit their C.V to hubertmaxwell@eircom.net

IRISH HEREFORDS HEAD EAST TO RUSSIA

This week the first consignment in 2017 of pedigree in-calf Hereford heifers destined for Russia departed these shores.

In-calf pedigree Hereford heifers being loaded for Russian export at Hubert Maxwell & Co Export facility

A specially selected group of in-calf heifers of diverse pedigree from herds across the country including eight eighteen to twenty month old bulls brought together by Hubert Maxwell, Livestock exporters have been in quarantine for the past month. All health requirements being fully completed to the satisfaction of the importers the signal to move was received.

Pedigree Hereford bulls ready for loading with exporter Michael Maxwell

The luxury transport for the Hereford consignment to their new home is provided by a Lithuanian company with extensive experience of cattle transport across Europe. The journey will take one week including rest breaks on the route through France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland and Belarus to the final destination just 180km west of Moscow.

The Russian Hereford breeders who have purchased the cattle came to Ireland in January last to visit a number of farms and see the quality of animal available and were extremely satisfied with the standard.

Svetlana Koss who hails from Moscow has co-ordinated the project on this occasion said she was extremely pleased with both the quality of the cattle and with how the current project has worked out. A further consignment this time of over 100 in-calf Hereford heifers arrived almost immediately at the quarantine facility replacing those heading for Rosslare.

The testing at quarantine is quiet extensive but Svetlana is with Michael Maxwell confident that this further consignment will again go through without any major hitch.

Another group of six for apartment four on the luxury transport truck

Irish Hereford Society chairman Willie Branagan was very pleased with the progress to date on this export order and is confident of further similar orders including maiden heifers later this spring. The Hereford cattle exported will allow the expansion and rebuilding of the beef cattle population in Russia which has huge possibilities for development into the future he said.

Luxury travel for Hereford heifers across Europe to Russia

IT’S a long way from Roscommon to Kazakhstan.

Creaga News Articles January 31, 2015

But that’s where 300 head of cattle are travelling over the next 12 days.

Yesterday the pedigree Hereford and Angus cattle were loaded on to lorries to begin their 6,500km trip to a farmer in Kazakhstan in the former Soviet Union.

Their seller, Hubert Maxwell (73), from Ballinagare in Roscommon, was on crutches yesterday as he oversaw their departure.

Hungarian Drivers watches the cattle load.

But a recent hip operation did not deter him from keeping a close eye on proceedings as 13 drivers from Hungary, Germany and Russia helped load up the animals for the first stage of the trip.

“It does cause a bit of a stir in the village,” laughed Mr Maxwell who sent his first shipment to Kazakhstan in August last year. He believes there is huge potential in this export business.

When the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, and Kazakhstan became independent, the economy floundered. Food supplies dwindled and the cattle population fell from 38 million in 1994 to just two million.

Mr Maxwell and his two sons Michael and Shane and grandson Derek source cattle from all over the country, buying directly from the breeders. Long before they started exporting to Kazakhstan, they sold cattle to Egypt and Libya until foot-and-mouth disease stalled exports in 1996.

As Department of Agriculture officials mingled with non-English speaking drivers outside the two-storey farmhouse yesterday, Mr Maxwell explained that under the regulations the cattle must be taken off the trucks every 24 hours to be fed and watered and rested.

“We put a lot of hay on the trucks and they get water at will,” he explained. “They have plenty of room to stand up or lie down as they wish.”

His wife Ronny seemed to be running a hotel as well yesterday as she and family members provided a dinner (roast beef, of course) for drivers and other visitors before the grand exodus at around 2.30pm yesterday.

“They were supposed to leave from Rosslare last Tuesday night but the storms meant there was no shipping that night,” said Mr Maxwell.

“The drivers have been in Ballinagare since. We looked after them and they slept on the lorries. That is their life.”

Ballinagare has been a bit of a melting pot lately because the Maxwells hosted a group from Kazakhstan two weeks ago who came to see what was available in Ireland.

“We took them around the country and they were very impressed,” said Mr Maxwell.

“They import cattle from all over Europe and we also have competition from Canada but I think there is a lot of potential for growth here.”

The Maxwells sent five shipments to Kazakhstan last year.

“We did not lose one animal and we got a special recommendation from the government there. That meant a lot to me as I like things to be done properly,” said Mr Maxwell.

The family won’t be having a break after the excitement of yesterday.

“We have another load of cattle coming in here tomorrow,” explained Mr Maxwell. “We have to quarantine them until they go — the next shipment will leave in the middle of June.”

Irish Independent, Published 20/04/2012