The international development agency, Bóthar, which specialises in the use of livestock, announced this morning that currently it has 500 families that are waiting to receive an Irish dairy cow.

These families are in Rwanda, Albania and Kosovo. Each family has, over the past nine months, been preparing to receive an animal from Ireland. Under the Bóthar programme the family is required to grow the fodder required for the animal. They are also required to build an appropriate cow house and undergo a training course in cow husbandry.

In recent years Bóthar has been sending between 400 - 600 dairy heifers from Ireland to similar families in developing countries and this year we would like to meet the commitments that we have made to the 500 hundred families that are currently waiting to receive animals.

Urgent

Since the beginning of 2010 however there has been a noticeable drop off in the number of heifer donations from all around the country. "This is probably because of the economic recession" said Allison Mc Namara, Marketing and PR Manager, Bóthar. "We have noticed in recent months that the flow of heifers has been slowing down. We would like to urge farmers to consider donating a heifer to a poor family in the developing world as however bad our circumstances might be, these people are much worse off all together."

One dairy cow would not change the lives and indeed the future of an entire family here in Ireland. However in our project countries one good dairy cow can be better than winning the Lotto. In fact receiving a dairy cow does a lot more for our recipient families than providing them with food and income. It goes on to give them a great sense of pride in their work and restores their dignity as human beings. It gives them great hope for the future as it will enable them to send their children to school and pay for day to day family necessities.

Each family that receives an in calf dairy heifer is given a wonderful opportunity to lift themselves up out of their poverty. Working with their heifer and under the guidance of Bóthar personnel and our international partners the family can provide milk for themselves and have a surplus for sale. Each family agrees to pass on the first heifer calf that their animal has to another poor family which has been trained and prepared in exactly the same way. Having passed on the first female calf the original family can keep all subsequent stock bred and build up their herd as the years go by.

Artificial Insemination

Besides preparing the family and training them how to grow the appropriate fodder and build the necessary housing Bóthar also provides an artificial insemination programme for all recipient families. The artificial insemination straws are provided by AI stations all over Ireland. Bóthar equips trains and mobilises AI men in each of our project countries to ensure that the breeding programme continues as the years go by.

Next Airlift

All Bóthar heifers are flown to their destination. The next Bóthar airlift will be taking place at the end of March and we are urgently asking farmers to donate an in-calf dairy heifer. We are also asking the non farming public to donate the cost of an in-calf dairy heifer or to donate what you can towards this airlift. We can get a heifer on their behalf.

If you would like to donate an in-calf dairy heifer or if you would like more information about the Bóthar airlifts please contact Maria McCormack, Bóthar, Old Clare Street, Limerick. Email mariaatbothar.ie or freephone 1800 268 463