The Irish Holstein Friesian Association (IHFA) recently announced the winners of its annual herd’s competition for 2021.
A total of 42 herds were nominated by their respective local clubs to go forward to participate.
Having qualified on merit at local club level, the participating herds nominated represent the top echelons of Holstein Friesian breeding nationwide. The competition comprises four separate categories:
Herds of 80 cows and less. Herds greater than 80 cows. Spring-calving herds. Pure Friesian herds.In selecting the winners herds are judged based on production performance, herd conformation standard on classification and points from the chosen judge.
This year’s judge was Dessie Dunleavy, former herd manager of the Moneymore herd, Drogheda, Co Louth.
For the competition he visited all 42 herds in July over six and a half days, covering over 3,000km and viewing over 4,500 cows.
From L-R: Charles Gallagher CE with Kieran O’Donoghue, Glenaboy herd and Bryan Daniels, Raheenarran Pure Friesian herd winners of the highest EBI category awards pictured with PJ Kelly, IHFA president. \ Maria Kelly
Dunleavy said: “Being invited to judge the National Herds Competition is a fabulous honour for me and for my family. Truly it is a standout highlight landmark of my judging career.
“I’d like to thank every breeder that I had the pleasure of meeting. The welcome and hospitality that I received from breeders and their families was so warm and generous.
From L-R: James Egan, Tobermartin Herd (3rd); William Horgan, Aghaleemore Herd (2nd), ; and Brian Kenneally, Bessborough Herd (1st) in the spring-calving category pictured with PJ Kelly IHFA president. \ Maria Kelly
“In the times that we are in that nice social interaction of meeting breeders one-to-one while out in the fields admiring top calibre stock was all the more enjoyable.”
From L-R: Míchéal Spillane Mountain Herd (3rd); Pat Cleary, Carrickshock Herd (2nd); and Peadar Healy, Firoda herd (1st) in the Irish pure Friesian category with PJ Kelly IHFA president. \ Maria Kelly
Other awards
On top of the national herds competition a few special awards were also selected.
The judge’s choice award is a unique merit award at the judge’s discretion to present to the three herds of his selection who made a distinct impression.
The judge’s recognition award is a special prize awarded to a herd’s competition participant who has made a significant recent investment or specialisation in a specific area or aspect of farming.
The winner of the IHFA National Herds Competition judge’s recognition award 2021 is Teresa Roche of Kylemore Farmhouse Cheese and Farm Shop, located near Abbey, Loughrea, Co Galway. In a bid to diversify and add value to the family’s Kilmora pedigree registered herd Teresa established Kylemore Farmhouse Cheese as an on-farm cheese manufacturing and retail business.
Teresa Roche Kylemore Farmhouse Cheese & Farm Shop winner of the judge's recognition award. Teresa’s parents Julie & Bertie accepted the award pictured with PJ Kelly, IHFA president. \ Maria Kelly
The help and support of Teresa’s parents Bertie and Julie has been a major factor in the terrific success so far. Last year, Teresa bolted on to the farmhouse cheese enterprise by setting up an on-farm shop on the premises.
In conjunction with the IHFA National Herds Competition results there will also be two awards presented to the breeders of the highest-EBI pedigree-registered cow and the highest-EBI pedigree-registered cow on IHFA classification score.
From L-R: Aidan Frawley, Ballytigue Herd (3rd); and Thomas & James Kelly, Monamore Herd (1st) in the herds 80 cows & over category pictured with PJ Kelly IHFA president. Not in photo is Rickey Barrett, Laurelelm Herd (2nd). \ Maria Kelly
The award for the highest-EBI registered cow went to Raheenarran BCG Dairine 2 VG85 from breeder Bryan Daniels, Kilmoganny, Co Kilkenny. This cow had an EBI of €371 with a lifetime calving interval after 12 calvings of 366 days. Her lifetime yield to date is 75,305kg of which 6,017kg are milk solids (4.47% fat and 3.52% protein).
SFrom L-R: ylvia & Robert Helen, Eedy Herd (3rd); Philip Jones, Hallow Herd (2nd); and Joan Jackson, Borkilbeg Herd (1st) in the 80 cows & under category pictured with PJ Kelly IHFA President. \ Maria Kelly
Securing top spot for highest-EBI pedigree cow on classification was Glenaboy HDJ Daisy EX90 from Kieran O’Donoghue, Tallow, Co Waterford. This cow had an EBI of €350 and after five calvings has a lifetime calving interval of 367 days. She has yielded over 40,500kg of milk of which 3,828kg are solids (5.2% fat and 4.24% protein)
The Irish Holstein Friesian Association (IHFA) recently announced the winners of its annual herd’s competition for 2021.
A total of 42 herds were nominated by their respective local clubs to go forward to participate.
Having qualified on merit at local club level, the participating herds nominated represent the top echelons of Holstein Friesian breeding nationwide. The competition comprises four separate categories:
Herds of 80 cows and less. Herds greater than 80 cows. Spring-calving herds. Pure Friesian herds.In selecting the winners herds are judged based on production performance, herd conformation standard on classification and points from the chosen judge.
This year’s judge was Dessie Dunleavy, former herd manager of the Moneymore herd, Drogheda, Co Louth.
For the competition he visited all 42 herds in July over six and a half days, covering over 3,000km and viewing over 4,500 cows.
From L-R: Charles Gallagher CE with Kieran O’Donoghue, Glenaboy herd and Bryan Daniels, Raheenarran Pure Friesian herd winners of the highest EBI category awards pictured with PJ Kelly, IHFA president. \ Maria Kelly
Dunleavy said: “Being invited to judge the National Herds Competition is a fabulous honour for me and for my family. Truly it is a standout highlight landmark of my judging career.
“I’d like to thank every breeder that I had the pleasure of meeting. The welcome and hospitality that I received from breeders and their families was so warm and generous.
From L-R: James Egan, Tobermartin Herd (3rd); William Horgan, Aghaleemore Herd (2nd), ; and Brian Kenneally, Bessborough Herd (1st) in the spring-calving category pictured with PJ Kelly IHFA president. \ Maria Kelly
“In the times that we are in that nice social interaction of meeting breeders one-to-one while out in the fields admiring top calibre stock was all the more enjoyable.”
From L-R: Míchéal Spillane Mountain Herd (3rd); Pat Cleary, Carrickshock Herd (2nd); and Peadar Healy, Firoda herd (1st) in the Irish pure Friesian category with PJ Kelly IHFA president. \ Maria Kelly
Other awards
On top of the national herds competition a few special awards were also selected.
The judge’s choice award is a unique merit award at the judge’s discretion to present to the three herds of his selection who made a distinct impression.
The judge’s recognition award is a special prize awarded to a herd’s competition participant who has made a significant recent investment or specialisation in a specific area or aspect of farming.
The winner of the IHFA National Herds Competition judge’s recognition award 2021 is Teresa Roche of Kylemore Farmhouse Cheese and Farm Shop, located near Abbey, Loughrea, Co Galway. In a bid to diversify and add value to the family’s Kilmora pedigree registered herd Teresa established Kylemore Farmhouse Cheese as an on-farm cheese manufacturing and retail business.
Teresa Roche Kylemore Farmhouse Cheese & Farm Shop winner of the judge's recognition award. Teresa’s parents Julie & Bertie accepted the award pictured with PJ Kelly, IHFA president. \ Maria Kelly
The help and support of Teresa’s parents Bertie and Julie has been a major factor in the terrific success so far. Last year, Teresa bolted on to the farmhouse cheese enterprise by setting up an on-farm shop on the premises.
In conjunction with the IHFA National Herds Competition results there will also be two awards presented to the breeders of the highest-EBI pedigree-registered cow and the highest-EBI pedigree-registered cow on IHFA classification score.
From L-R: Aidan Frawley, Ballytigue Herd (3rd); and Thomas & James Kelly, Monamore Herd (1st) in the herds 80 cows & over category pictured with PJ Kelly IHFA president. Not in photo is Rickey Barrett, Laurelelm Herd (2nd). \ Maria Kelly
The award for the highest-EBI registered cow went to Raheenarran BCG Dairine 2 VG85 from breeder Bryan Daniels, Kilmoganny, Co Kilkenny. This cow had an EBI of €371 with a lifetime calving interval after 12 calvings of 366 days. Her lifetime yield to date is 75,305kg of which 6,017kg are milk solids (4.47% fat and 3.52% protein).
SFrom L-R: ylvia & Robert Helen, Eedy Herd (3rd); Philip Jones, Hallow Herd (2nd); and Joan Jackson, Borkilbeg Herd (1st) in the 80 cows & under category pictured with PJ Kelly IHFA President. \ Maria Kelly
Securing top spot for highest-EBI pedigree cow on classification was Glenaboy HDJ Daisy EX90 from Kieran O’Donoghue, Tallow, Co Waterford. This cow had an EBI of €350 and after five calvings has a lifetime calving interval of 367 days. She has yielded over 40,500kg of milk of which 3,828kg are solids (5.2% fat and 4.24% protein)
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