Bóthar announces record response to aid appeal

Bóthar, the international development agency that specialises in the use of livestock, has announced that it has received a record-breaking’ response to its ‘Spring Calf Appeal’ for the donation of heifer calves to its Shelton Abbey prisoner rehabilitation project.

Over 45 heifer calves have been pledged by donors all across the country since the launch of the appeal on March 21, making it one of the most generous and speedy responses the charity has ever seen.

Commenting on the response, Peter Ireton, Bóthar chief executive, said: “We’ve been blown away to receive 45 dairy calves with over three weeks left to run on this campaign. Shelton Abbey has capacity to look after up to 26 cows so we will now be appealing for Bóthar supporters to assist us in raising the remainder of the calves around the country.”

Last December, over 300 dairy goats raised by in mates at Shelton Abbey were transported to Belfast International Airport where, together with 100 dairy goats from the North, they were sent to over 400 individual families in Uganda.

Each Irish calf sent to Africa will be donated to a family that has already received training in livestock care from Bóthar. The families that take part must agree to pass-on the first female offspring from their animal, to another family and so the effect of the donation is multiplied over and over. This system is an integral and essential part of all Bóthar animal projects.