IHFA

IHFA AGM 2020
2020-09-05 - 2020-10-06
The IHFA AGM 2020 took place on Wednesday September 2nd .
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and ongoing National restrictions on gatherings and guidelines as to group sizes permitted at events, the AGM was held later in the year and under constricted parameters.
It was an audio-enabled AGM whereby members had the opportunity to dial in remotely via telephone, to hear an audio of proceedings.

PJ Kelly

PJ Kelly from the West Midlands club was elected as IHFA President.
PJ and wife Ann & family operate the Rahanine herd, located close to Rochfortbridge, Co. Westmeath.
PJ was proposed for the position, the highest office, by his fellow West Midlands club member Graeme Taylor. Graeme hailed PJ’s lifelong contribution to the club and also noted the on-going stellar participation and contribution from all the Kelly family.

President PJ Kelly with Graeme Taylor and Dee Toal

Deirdre Toal seconded PJ’s nomination for President. Deirdre recounted her personal experience of involvement in the West Midlands club from a young age, an experience which she said was enhanced very positively by encouragement from PJ and others. Deirdre also saluted the high regard and esteem in which PJ is held in as a Judge throughout the country. Deirdre said that PJ has been invited by numerous clubs to judge both field evenings and herds competitions over the years and this bodes well for his term as President. Deirdre congratulated PJ, Ann and family.

President PJ Kelly with IHFA Chairperson Peter Ging and CE Charles Gallagher

Addressing the AGM after he was elected, PJ thanked his fellow West Midlands club members, his proposer Graeme and seconder Deirdre. He thanked his wife Ann and family for their invaluable support and encouragement. PJ said that he was both humbled and honoured to accept the position of President. In conclusion he thanked and saluted outgoing President Patrick Gaynor for his unstinting service, commenting on the tireless efforts of both Patrick and wife Mary in attending so many National and club events the length and breadth of the country throughout the year.
Richard Whelan from the North Eastern club was elected to the position of President Elect on the proposal of Leo Nulty and this was seconded by Peter Ging.
Richard thanked his fellow club members for the proposal and he thanked his proposer and seconder for their kind words. In accepting the nomination Richard said that he was humbled to be put forward for the role.

President PJ Kelly with outgoing President Patrick Gaynor

He congratulated PJ Kelly on his election as President. Richard thanked Patrick Gaynor for his stellar term as IHFA President. He also thanked Patrick’s wife Mary and all the Gaynor family for their unstinting work and support on many fronts of Pedigree breeding including their work and support for Emerald Expo, Virginia Show and the Baileys Champion cow, their local Breffni Oriel Holstein Friesian breeders club and YMA involvement.
The AGM also recorded the election of new board members; Leo Collins Junior (North Eastern club), Joe Doran (Kildare club) and Tommy Cahill (Galway club).
You can read the CE Report from the AGM here. The venue for the AGM was the Mullingar Park Hotel, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath.

25th IHFA National Holstein Friesian Open Day – Report
2020-07-15
25th IHFA National Holstein Friesian Open Day – Report

The sales ring at Crossnacole

Breeders from across the country flocked to Crossnacole Holsteins in Co. Wicklow for what promised to be an occasion to savour. They certainly were not disappointed. The farm yard layout, the overall presentation, attention to detail and the quality of the cows that would compare with any herd worldwide in a beautiful setting with the backdrop of Sliabh Donard.
Everyone was warmly welcomed with refreshments laid on for young and old.
This was the 25th anniversary of the National Open day hosted on that inaugural occasion by Crossnacole Holsteins. The herd has evolved over the 25 years, originally a herd of Friesians graded up from homebred cow families to a Holstein Herd built on International cow families through the purchase of Embryos mainly from North America with some purchase from France and at home.
Michael Phelan, Manager of the Agri-Division at Connolly Redmills officially opened the event. As main sponsors of the event he wished Victor and IHFA a successful day. Connolly Redmills through their local branch Morrins have a long association with supplying feed to the Crossnacole herd.
The programme of events included the Inter club stockjuding.
Spectators were in awe at the quality of the 22 cows in the ring. Comments such as “if you saw 22 cows of this calibre at Emerald Expo, Tullamore or the Dairy show it would be the talk of the show,especially when they were all bred and supplied from the one herd”
The Master Judges John Barrett-Laurelmore, Garry Hurley-Clonpaddin, Garry Jones- Hallow and Izzy Jones-Knowlesmere who judged the under 12 YMA were fulsome in their praise of the stock and the overall presentation.
I wish to thank all our judges including Diarmud Murphy-Lissaniskey for taking the reasons for the under 18 section, also John Joe Doyle –Kiltrea and Enda Jordan-Vinegar Hill for judging the Macra.
Prizes were presented to the winning teams by Connolly Redmills and FBD, sponsors. Full results HERE
I wish to thank all our sponsors including Volac who sponsored the YMA and Glanbia –Consumer foods who helped sponsor the catering.
Donations were made to Downe Syndrome Ireland and Baltinglass Nursing home who were the designated charities.
I wish to thank the local club members who helped with the training of the cows, stewards and all who helped in any way. I wish to thank Eric and Richard who were always on hand and made everything possible.
I also wish to thank all the IHFA staff both office and field for their help and support.
Finally I wish to thank Victor for being such a marvellous host.
Dignitaries present included IHFA President Kathleen Watson Recently elected President of Holstein UK, David Perry and his wife Beatrice, Killane Herd, Northern Ireland, were also in attendance.
National Herds Competition:
Prizes were also presented to the National Herds competition winners. I wish to thank Greenvale for sponsoring this competition over many years.
I also wish to thank our Judge Paul Hannan of the Lisnalty herd for taking the week off from his busy schedule to judge this prestigious competition.
Full results can be found HERE.
Celebration Sale
As part of the IHFA National Open Day a special sale offering the very best young stock from the top cow families is a traditional feature. Victor commented that he was preparing for this celebration for the last five years, flushing the top families. 15 members of the prolific Paradise family were on offer. The sale provided an opportunity to acquire a member of these deep pedigreed heifers from renowned cow families.
There were 53 lots on offer with two remaining unsold. Very brisk trade with an Average price €2600.
Top price Lot 32 €6,500 – An Atwood from the Fame family tracing back to the Moralta Inspiration Fame-Potential 5 generations EX with exceptional udder promise.
Lot 8 €5,000 – An Atwood from the Paradise family,3rd Dam is the renowned Dundee Precious.
Lot 12 – Crossnacole McCutchen Precious sold for €4,000
Lot 24 – Crossnacole Uno Amy sold for €4,000
Lot 23 – Crossnacole Doorman Chastity sold for €3,800
Lot 29 – Crossnacole Attwood Precious 4 ET sold for €3,500
Lot 4 – Crossnacole McCutchen Larissa sold for €3,400
Lot 9 – Crossnacole Beemer Precious sold for €3,400
Lot 18 – Crossnacole Doorman Apple sold for €3,400
Lot 13 – Crossnacole McCutchen Andrea sold for €3,200
Lot 14 – Crossnacole Brokaw Alania – €3,100
Lot 40 – Crossnacole D Back Precious 3 – €3,100
Lot 16 – Crossnacole Atwood Andrea – €3,000
Lot 19 – Crossnacole Durbin Lina – €3,000
Lot 31 – Crossnacole Kingboy Fame – €3,000
Crossnacole Holsteins Herd Factfile:
Herd Size: 140 cows
Output: 1.4m litres sold in 2016. 500 gls (2,250 l) per day Liquid contract. The herd has won the Kildare Club quality milk award on many occasions.
Land base: 126 acres home farm with 60 acres rented for young stock and 20 acres Maize on contract.
Feeding: Max use of grazed grass, Turnout 17th March, out by night from 10th April. Housed by Mid October.
TMR: Grass Silage, Maize, Brewers, treated grain plus concentrates fed to yield in the parlour. Quality grass silage is key. The herd has won the Kildare Club silage competition on many occasions.
Breeding Policy: Medium sized, balanced capacious cows to consume large volume of roughage. Flushes 8 to 10 animals per year.
Labour: The herd is managed by Victor and his nephew Richard, additional casual labour is used at peak demand times.
Current Sires in use: Doorman, Atwood, Goldchip, Diamondback, Solomon, Kingboy, Beemer, Mogul, Flame .
Herd Achievements: RDS Champion, Baileys Champion, Tullamore Champion, Exhibitor bred Champion National Dairy show, Premier Bull sale Champion &Reserve, National Herds Competition winner. Kildare club successes.
Services: IHFA Registration & Classification. Teagasc Adviser Paul Keogh.
Victor is a keen showman and stockman, his skills are very much recognized as he is a judge both on the home circuit IHFA panel and on the European judges’ panel
The herd was built on initial purchases from renowned cow families across the country and Northern Ireland as well as grading up the best cow families in the existing commercial herd.
Farming a limited land base meant that the cows had to deliver high production with excellent functionality in udders and legs and feet.
The herd has progressed in terms of production and type and has grown to 140 Holstein Friesian pedigree registered cows delivering 1.4 m gallons of mainly liquid milk to Glanbia Co-op in 2016.
Victor Comments “Investing in top cow families mainly from North America and some from Europe through the purchase of embryos as the pathway to deliver progress. The herd is now a closed herd except for the purchase of select embryos.”
The herd profile reads like the “Who’s Who” of world renowned cow families. Precious, Truey, Lady, Roxy, Lulu, Vixan, Fame, Chastity, Allie, Apple Red, Hermina.
The Precious family tracing back to the Paradise cow is a favourite of Victors with 46 female members registered. Crossnacole Dundee Precious EX92 is dry and on a continuous flush programme. She is a granddaughter of the Integrity Paradise cow
This is a prolific family having bred two EX second calvers. She has bred six sisters calved in the herd, all scored VG 85 to 87 points. Her Daughter Crossnacole Precious Gold EX92 by Goldwyn was a class winner at the RUAS Winter Fair 2014 and National Dairy show 2013.
Her other daughter Crossnacole Shottle Precious EX 92 on her 3rd lactation.She is the dam of Atwood Precious fresh on her 3rd-Classified EX second calver in 2016.
“The herd is backboned by these cow families carefully selected to deliver in terms of functionality, quality and efficiency of yields. As breeders we are well aware it is cow families that transmit generation after generation. I view cow type and functionality as critical for overall performance in allowing for genetic potential to be expressed and realised. My breeding policy is for medium sized, balanced, capacious cows with the ability to consume large volumes of roughage.
90% of the herd is now classified to VG/EX Conformation, the top two grades of the IHFA Classification scoring system
I make maximum use of grazed grass with buffer feeding for peak yield. Turnout in the spring is usually March 17th with cows out night & day by April 10th. Winter housing usually occurs in mid-October. I place high priority on making quality silage, realising its vital role in herd nutrition throughout the winter diet. The TMR fed consists of grass silage, maize silage, whole beet, brewers grains with concentrate fed to yield in the parlour”.
Exhibiting at local and national shows, National Herds Competition and participating in the Slaney and Kildare Club events brought success and recognition for the herd. The herd won the medium section in the Bord Bainne herd’s competition six times in a row and again winning the large herd section in 2006 IHFA National Herds Competition. The farm also won the Development Farmer of the Year in 1991 as well as other successes including;
• RDS Spring Show Champion
• Baileys Champion Cow
• Tullamore National Livestock Show Champion
• National Dairy Show Exhibitor Bred Champion

IHFA National Open Day 2019 at Radney Herd
2019-04-01 - 2019-04-04
IHFA National Open Day 2019 at Radney Herd
Inter-Club Stock Judging 2019 – sponsored by Kerry Agribusiness and Roches Feeds

••••

Over 27 years
1. Kerry – Emer Kennelly, Daniel Curtin, Kieran Savage
2. Breffni Oriel – Trevor Williamson, Andrew Gilliand, Karl Colton
3. Carlow Kilkenny – Padraic Murphy, Eamon Coleman, Aileen Murphy
Highest Individual: Karl Colton (Breffni Oriel)

••••

18 – 16 years
1. Kerry – Jack Goulding, Padraic Broderick, Katie Kenneally
2. North Eastern – Jack Mennis, Mathew Flanagan, Thea Flanagan
3. Carlow Kilkenny – Simon Lanigan, Doirean Mulhall, Fabian Jacob
Highest Individual: Michael Healy (Galway) & Jack Goulding (Kerry)

••••

12 – 18 years
1. Cork – Sarah Shannon, Gabby Nagle, Donncha Lynch
2. Galway – Sarah Grady, Aoibhinn Screene, Stephen Laffey
3. Kerry – Muiris Harty, Ronan O’Mahony, Oisin Cronin
Highest Individual: Sarah Grady (Galway)

National Herds Competition 2019 – sponsored by Greenvale Animal Feeds

National Herds competition judging week, June 2019

Over 80 Herd
1. Brochan & Joseph Cocoman, Kilwarden Herd, Co. Kildare
2. Aidan & Sally Frawley, Ballytigue Herd, Co. Limerick
3. John Barrett Jnr, Laurelmore Herd, Co. Cork
Under 80 Herd
1. Dermot Jackson, Borkilbeg Herd, Co. Wicklow
2. Damian Wynne, Rowantree Herd, Co. Cavan
3. Robert and Sylvia Helen, Eedy Herd, Co. Cork
Spring Herd
1. Brian Kenneally, Bessborough Herd, Co. Kilkenny
2. Henry & Liam O’Keeffe, Radney Herd, Co. Cork
3. James Egan, Tobermartin Herd, Co. Kerry
Judges Choice Award
1. Dermot Jackson, Borkilbeg Herd, Co. Wicklow
2. Aidan & Sally Frawley, Ballytigue Herd, Co. Limerick
3. Micheal Spillane, Mountian Herd, Co. Tipperary
Judges Recognition Award
Michael & Elizabeth McNamara, Barna Herd, Co. Cork
EBI Awards
EBI Herd Award – Brendan Meade, Stamullen Herd, Co. Meath
EBI Animal Award – Ballygown PKX 1160, Seamus Knox, Ballygown Herd, Co. Kilkenny
EBI Animal Award Classified VG/EX – Coolnahane GJM Ater VG85, Elizabeth Lane, Coolnahane Herd, Co. Cork
Celebration Sale of Young Stock
The sale’s top price was €3,300. With 6 animals over €3,000. Also there was a further 18 animals over €2,500, including 3 calves under 6 months. There was a 94% clearance for females. An exceptional sale average of €2,000 was attained, considering 20 of calves were under 6 months old.
The sale was conducted by Denis Barrett Auctioneer and sponsored by Roches Feeds

IHFA National Open Day 2018 – Oldrose Herd
2018-04-30 - 2018-05-03
IHFA National Open Day 2018 – Oldrose Herd
Tropical weather across the country swell the crowds at the IHFA National Open Day!
The IHFA National Open Day is now established as a prominent event in the agri-calendar, where Holstein Friesian breeders, dairy farmers and industry from across the country attend. The event is a major shop window to showcase breed genetic diversity, variation and efficiency of performance. Staging the Open Day on different host herds across the country every year helps demonstrate breed performance across diverse farming systems.
In excess of 2,000 people travelled to county Meath and the to Oldrose Herd of the Collins family who were hosting this year’s event. The farm was a sea of colour and looked splendid in the tropical sunshine. Luscious grass was available for the cows as the Collins are excellent grassland enthusiasts, however we could see that the drought conditions were starting to affect re growths.
Everyone was warmly welcomed by the family with refreshments, copious amount of sandwiches and treats for all visitors. The charity Down Syndrome Ireland were busy serving ice creams with all donations deeply appreciated. Cold bottles of water were on hand at various stations as the temperatures climbed to 28 degrees Celsius. The local voluntary group Ardcath & Clonalvy First Responders, consisting of volunteers from the surrounding parishes had a prominent presence with the aim of increasing awareness around remedial action in the event of medical emergency situations. This cause was well received by those in attendance since such situations are very real to all especially rural communities. Donations in lieu of the refreshments provided on the day were in aid of this voluntary group, of which Patricia Collins is an active member.
The official opening was performed by Helen McEntee, Minister for European Affairs and TD for Meath East. Helen stressed the importance of such events to the rural economy and complimented IHFA, the Collins family and members of the North Eastern Club for organising such a splendid event.
Other dignitaries in attendance were a delegation from the Government of Egypt including Dr. Mona Mehrez, Vice Minister for Agriculture; Dr. Ghanem, Veterinary Officerand accompanied by personnel from DAFM, Bord Bia and the Irish Embassy – Mostafa Hassanien, Egyptian Embassy Dublin; Vincent Herlihy, Deputy Head of Mission with the Irish Embassy based in Cairo; David Butler, Director of Sustainable Food Systems Ireland and Claudia Saumell, Africa Manager, Bord Bia.
One of the objectives of the delegation is to agree a Health Certificate between Ireland and Egypt for export of dairy stock. It is not possible to export animals without this Health Certificate. This visit by the delegates is only the first step in the export process, serving as an insight to the Irish industry. The delegation were impressed with what they saw during the course of their visit.
Among the many dignitaries were Wilbert Rankin, President of Holstein Northern Ireland and Charles Weir, Chairman. John Martin their Field Officer, was also in attendance with a well honed team for the Inter-club Open Stock Judging.
Peter Kennelly, President of IHFA , Peter Ging, Chairman along with Chief Executive Charles Gallagher welcomed everyone as proceedings got under way with the Inter-club Stock Judging.
The Master Judges were Tom Kelly, Monamore herd; Dessie Dunleavy, former manager of the Moneymore herd; Michael Maunsell, Maunsell herd and Eamonn McLoughney, Ballythomas herd who judged the Under 12 YMA section. They were fulsome in their praise of the stock and overall presentation as the cows were paraded in front of a very enthusiastic audience.
Leo Collins Jnr gave a commentary on all the stock. A key trait running through the herd was the performance of the cows coupled with longevity over six and seven lactations.
Current herd average is 9,540kgs milk, 4.83% fat, 3.26% protein (305 days). Farming near Balgeeth, Ardcath, the Collins family milk 200 pedigree registered Holstein Friesian cows. Leo Collins Snr and his wife Patricia established the Oldrose prefix in 1976. The top Friesian lines were used in the early days and some select purchases of pedigree stock from local herds helped put a solid base in place. Holstein lines were then used in the following years, helping to drive increased output. Leo & Patricia have five sons; James, Eoin, Leo and Brian. They were all in attendance helping out in getting the farm yard in ship shape.
Leo junior returned home to the farm in 2003. He is married to Aisling and they have two daughters Saoirse and Eilish.
The main sponsor was McAuley Feeds, a local miller supplying feed to the Oldrose herd. It is a third-generation family owned and operated business. David McAuley on behalf of the company addressed the crowd and said that the Collins farm were one of their first customers when his father set up the business. He was fulsome in his praise of the sheer professionalism of the day and his association with the Oldrose Herd. He, along with his brother Louis, presented the prizes for the Inter-club Stock Judging .
I wish to thank all the judges who included Stephen Nagle, Landmark Herd, who was the reason giving judge for YMA and Pat Tuite, Maurill Herd and John O’Dea former manager of Clongowes who were the Macra judges.
I wish to thank all our sponsors, McAuley Feeds, Greenvale, AIB, Drogheda Milk Producers, FBD Insurance, Farm Relief Services, Glanbia, Volac and Westgate Veterinary Services.
Agri Aware attended with their Family Farm. This is a novel attraction for young children to view the display of small animals; piglets, lambs, chicks etc and also provided a practical demo on butter making. There was a diverse trade stand display featuring products and services on the market place.
I wish to thank those who helped train and led the cows on the day, all the stewards, local club members, those that helped with the parking, and IHFA staff.
Finally I wish to thank the Collins family for being such marvellous hosts.
National Herds Competition:
The results of the National Herds Competition were announced with beautiful prizes sponsored by Greenvale Animal Feeds, for which I am greatly thankful.
I wish to thank Mark Logan, Clandeboye Estates, Northern Ireland, who visited and judged 38 herds across the country.
Celebration sale:
The Oldrose Open Day Sale in conjunction with the hosting of the IHFA National Open Day saw a buoyant trade with 35 lots forward on the day. Hosts Leo Collins Snr and Jnr & family offered the very best young stock that would have been retained in the herd except for the proud occasion of hosting the IHFA National Open Day. The herd is built mainly on home-bred cow families with some choice purchases of select cow families made along the way.
Sale averaged €2,170 with 80% clearance. Further sales were concluded privately afterwards.
Oldrose Rambo Torch (Lot 16) made the top price selling for €3,750
She is a potential 9th generations of VG/EX from the renowned Torch family – Monamore. Her dam has averaged over 9,000kgs in her first three lactations to date. A stylish September born heifer sired by OCD Kingboy Rambo.
