IHFA Open Day 2010
held on Thursday June 24th
on the farm of Thomas & Michael Buckley, The Tree Tops, Ballinahina, Dublin Pike, Cork.
Thousands Attend IHFA Open Day
Over 3000 dairy farmers and their families attended the recent Open Day of the Irish Holstein Friesian Association (IHFA) on the farm of Thomas and Michael Buckley at the Dublin Pike near Cork city. The good weather this summer and rising milk prices helped to make this one of the best attended Agri events organised this year.
Over 60 exhibitors had stands and the feed back was very positive indeed. Major sponsors for this event included Dairymaster, Keenan Systems, Lely Robotics, National Dairy Council, Paul & Vincent, Southern Milling, Volac etc. Admission and parking was free while ice cream, food and drinks were supplied all day FOC courtesy of the Cork club, Down Syndrome society and lady volunteers.
The official opening was kindly performed by Pat O’Keeffe, News Editor of the Irish Farmers Journal and Vice President of the Agricultural Science Association. Prior to this Padraig Walsh, President of COPA had taken time off from his busy silage campaign and did the honours at the official launch.
Charles Gallagher, CEO and Mervyn Jones President of the IHFA welcomed the visitors from near and far. Thomas Buckley spoke on the Ballinahina herd and how their targets for a balanced cow (combining consistent type, fertility, production and protein) and a good family farm income have been achieved.
The National Herds competition sponsored by Lely Robotics was kindly judged by Mervyn Johnston of the Mullakapin Holstein herd from Lisbellaw in Co. Fermanagh. Donagh Crowley from Lely congratulated the winners (Full details in attached list) and indeed all the competitors on the very high standard of their stock.
First prize in the over 70 herd section was won by a Kerry Coop supplier, Paul Hannan and the Lisnalty herd. Damian Wynne a Lakeland Dairies supplier won the under 70 herd section with the Rowantree herd. Arrabawn supplier Eamon McLoughney took first prize in the spring herd section.
The National Stockjudging competition was hotly contested and the under 18 section was won by the Tipperary/Waterford team. The Cork club took the honours in the 18-30 section while the Limerick/Clare club were tops in the spring herd competition. The highest individual scores were Rory Power (Tipperary/Waterford), Jerry O’Driscoll, (Cork) and Billy Hassett (Tipperary/Waterford). Details are attached.
Gold and Diamond Awards were also presented to breeders with cows that had produced 3000 Kgs or more of milk protein in their lifetime. The IHFA Diamond Award is for a cow yielding 3,000kgs protein and classified EX and the Gold Award is for a -cow having yielded 3,000kgs of milk protein. These cows are highly profitable and demonstrate the contribution the breed has made to improving family farm incomes.
Visitors to this event also had the opportunity to attend various demos and work shops hosted by Dairymaster, Farm Relief Service (Cork FRS), Keenan, Teagasc etc. Don Crowley of Teagasc on the Dairymaster stand spoke on somatic cell counts while his colleagues Billy Kelleher discussed body condition scoring.
Dr. Joe Patton and Michael Healy from Teagasc spoke on the benefits of using a grass wedge. Martin Kavanagh MVB, Animal Health consultant with Keenan discussed the importance of the dry cow diet in preparing a herd for calving so visitors had lots of good ideas to take home for action on their own farms.
National Herds Competition - Kindly sponsored by Lely Robotics
Over 70 Herd Section:
1. "Lisnalty" Herd - Paul Hannan, Friarstown, Crecora, Co. Limerick
2. "Laurelm" Herd - Ricky & John Barrett, The Elms, Adamstown, Ballinhassig, Co. Cork
3. "Monamore" Herd - Thomas Kelly, Philipstown Farm, Ballymakenny Rd, Drogheda, Co. Louth
Highest EBI Herd: "Ballyelly" Herd - Trevor Lockhart, Ballyelly, Ramelton, Co. Donegal
Mervyn Jones, President IHFA, Paul Hannon (& son Bill), winner of Over 70 Herd Section, National Herds Competition, Donagh Crowley, Lely Robotics (Sponsors)
Mervyn Jones, President IHFA, Ricky Barrett 2nd Over 70 Herd Section, National Herds Competition, Donagh Crowley, Lely Robotics (Sponsors)
Mervyn Jones, President IHFA, Tom Kelly & son James, 3rd Over 70 Herd Section, National Herds Competition, Donagh Crowley, Lely Robotics (Sponsors)
Mervyn Jones, President IHFA, Roy Cromie representing Trevor Lockhart, EBI winner of Over 70 Herd Section, National Herds Competition, John O'Sullivan, Chairman ICBF
Under 70 Herd Section:
1. "Rowantree" Herd - Damian Wynne, Slievebricken, Ballyconnell, Co. Cavan
2. "Lumville" Herd - Richard Whelan, Towlagh, Clonard, Co. Meath
3. "Ballyroon" Herd - Billy Connor, Ballycoroon, Crossmolina, Co. Mayo
Highest EBI Herd: "Windfield" Herd - Thomas Screene, Windfield, Menlough, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway
Mervyn Jones, President IHFA, Damian Wynne, winner of Under 70 Herd Section, National Herds Competition, Donagh Crowley, Lely Robotics (Sponsors)
Mervyn Jones, President IHFA, Richard Whelan & son Richie, 2nd Under 70 Herd Section, National Herds Competition, Donagh Crowley, Lely Robotics (Sponsors)
Mervyn Jones, President IHFA, Roy Cromie representing Billy Connor, 3rd Under 70 Herd Section, National Herds Competition, Donagh Crowley, Lely Robotics (Sponsors)
Mervyn Jones, President IHFA, Thomas Screene EBI winner of Under 70 Herd Section, National Herds Competition, John O'Sullivan, Chairman ICBF
Spring Herd Section:
1. "Ballythomas" Herd - Eamon McLoughney, Ballythomas, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary
2. "Haypicher" Herd - Padraig Floyd, Kellystown, Slane, Co. Meath
3. "Millstreet" Herd - Denis Kiely, Ballydaly, Rathmore, Co. Kerry
Highest EBI Herd: "Millstreet" Herd - Denis Kiely, Ballydaly, Rathmore, Co. Kerry
Mervyn Jones, President IHFA, Eamon McLoughney, winner of Spring Herd Section, National Herds Competition, Donagh Crowley, Lely Robotics (Sponsors)
Mervyn Jones, President IHFA, Padraig Floyd 2nd Spring Herd Section, National Herds Competition, Donagh Crowley, Lely Robotics (Sponsors)
Mervyn Jones, President IHFA, Denis Kiely EBI winner & 3rd Spring Herd Section, National Herds Competition, Donagh Crowley, Lely Robotics (Sponsors)
National Stockjudging Competition
Over 30 Stockjudging
1. Limerick / Clare (Mervyn Kearney, Gerry McCormick, Paul Hannan)
2. Tipperary Waterford (Kathleen Kelly, Sean Kelly, Billy Hassett)
3. Kerry (Michael Maunsell, Robert Groves, John Dillon)
4. Breffni / Oriel (Kenneth Boyd, Val Donoghue, Seamus Shannon)
5. Cork (Robert Helen, John O'Flynn, Carl Smyth)
6. Carlow / Kilkenny (Aileen Murphy, Tom Murphy, Lory O'Hanlon)
7. Galway (Ollie Whelan, John Coppinger, John Donoghue)
8. North Eastern (Gerald Caffrey, Pat Tuite, Leo Collins)
9. Slaney (Garry Hurley, Kathleen Watson, John Watson)
10. Laois / Offaly (Bill Flynn, Peter Ging, Tommy Finley)
11. Kildare (Joe Doran, Chris Mulally, Peter Taaffe)
Highest Individual - Winner of Jack McCulloch Trophy: Billy Hassett (Tipperary / Waterford)
18-30 Stockjudging
1. Cork (James Crowley, John O'Sullivan, Jerry O'Driscoll)
2. Kerry (Marian Kennelly, Eamon Leahy, Donal Leahy)
3. Slaney (Sarah Condren, Paul Donoghue, Laura Sinnott)
4. Tipperary / Waterford ( John Phelan, Andrew Nicholson, Ann Marie Hennessy)
5. Galway (Paul Ruane, Michael Gannon, John Carr)
6. Limerick / Clare (Kieran Woods, Donal Houlihan, Owen Hennessy)
7. Carlow / Kilkenny (Ciaran O'Shea, Padraic Murphy, Shane Murphy)
8. North Eastern (Richard Whelan Jnr, Leo Nulty Jnr, John Moore)
9. Laois / Offaly (Enda Neville, Claire Ging, John Blackburn)
Highest Individual - Winner of Milk Board Trophy: Jerry O'Driscoll (Cork)
Under 18 Stockjudging
1. Tipperary / Waterford (Maria Kinnane, Tom Hennessy, Rory Power)
2. Slaney (Meabh Kehoe, Mark Hurley, Geoff Chapman)
3. Cork (Avril Helen, Timmy McCarthy, Cormac Desmond)
4. Laois / Offaly (Ashling Neville, Kevin Fleury, Orla Neville)
5. Limerick / Clare (Emma McNamara, Mark Lynch), Ger McInerney)
6. Kerry (Katie Kennelly, Jack Walsh, Jamie Egan
7. North Eastern (Eoghan Crinion, Jamie McCullen, Cian O'Scannell)
8. Carlow / Kilkenny (Doireann Mulhall, Lauren O'Toole, Jack Tynan)
9. Galway (James Gildea, Donal Coppinger, Darragh Skehill)
10. Kildare (Caoimhe Murphy, Cathal Taaffe)
Highest Individual - Winner of Fr Patrick Collins Trophy: Rory Power (Tipperary / Waterford)
Richard Whelan, Chairman IHFA, with Stockjudging Master Judges, John Barrett "Laurelmore", Tom Kelly "Monamore", Mervyn Eager "Evergrange"
Joe Podesta, National Dairy Council (sponsors), Richard Whelan, Chairman IHFA, Victor Jackson (representing Dermot Jackson) & Edward Forde, recipients of Gold Awards at IHFA Open Day
Ballinahina Sale
There was a healthy trade for in milk stock which you will appreciate is well into the season. It was a brave gesture by Thomas and Michael Buckley to sell the entire stock judging team of 18cows and heifers.
The sale averaged €2200 with the top price of €5100 for “Ballinahina B Mattie198 EX 92”by Picston Shaker a maternal brother to Shottle. Her dam was also classified EX 90.
This excellent 4th calf cow was purchased by Murt Kelleher, Whites Cross, Cork..
Other prices recorded on the day were
Lot 15 – VG 88 second calver. by KITE . 3,000 (Purchased by Linnanagh herd)
Lot 13 – VG 88 second calver by The Hilltop Ptoto. 2,900 (Purchased by Paul Power, Kilcaragh
Lot 8 - VG 87 second calver by The Hilltop Ptoto . 2,700 (Purchased by Monamore)
Lot 3 - GP 83 heifer by Cradenhill Eden . 2,400 purchased by Hallow -M Jones
Body Scoring Competition
1st: John A Forrest, Banteer, Co. Cork
Winner of Herd Classification
2nd: Helen Hanly, Ballythomas, Ardroney, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary
Winner of Silage Additive - sponsored by VOLAC