The administration centre and bulls stud of Dovea Genetics is housed in Dovea Demesne. This was formerly owned by the Trant family who were of Norman origin and purchased lands in Tipperary in 1748.

A lecture was given by Dr. Henry Kennedy, Chief Executive of the Irish cooperative movements in 1944, to farmers in the Thurles district and this was attended by Captain Laurence Trant. He was anxious that his house, lands and amenities be preserved and therefore offered Dovea as a demonstration farm for the betterment of the farming community.
 

Captain Laurence Trant & his wife Eira

Dovea House and 500 acres was bought by Centenary Co-operative, Bouladuff, Thurles. The visionary manager of Centenary, Dan O’Mahoney, was instrumental in organising the Bovine Artificial Insemination Centre in the South Eastern region of Ireland, covering the counties of Tipperary, Waterford, Kilkenny, Laois and Offaly. The centre provided an artificial insemination service of quality genetics for the milk and beef producing herds of its co-operative members.

In 1952, fifty two Co-operative Creameries in the area became members of the newly formed South Eastern Cattle Breeding Society Limited which initially leased and later purchased Dovea House for its head quarters.

Dovea Headquarters 1962 with A.I. men ready for work

The A.I. Service initially offered to its customers dual purpose Dairy Shorthorn and the Aberdeen Angus and Hereford beef breeds.

Bulls at Dovea A.I. centre in 1956

The service became an instant success in the region, growing rapidly over the years. The Friesian breed was introduced in 1955 and this resulted in a transition from a dairy Shorthorn population to a Black and White Friesian type cow by the 1970’s.
In the early 1970’s Dovea was at the forefront in importing different continental beef breeds like the Charolais, Limousin and Blonde d’Aquitaine from France and the Simmental from Austria and Germany

Holstein genetics were introduced in the early eighties though purchasing bulls on the continent and Holstein semen from different A.I. Companies worldwide.

A testing programme for Friesians has been continued through the years until the present day, resulting in Dovea being acknowledged as having the best pure Friesian bull stud worldwide.

Headquarters of Dovea Genetics – 2007