National Dairy Show cattle co-ordinator John Kirby also confirmed a good run on entries in the lead-up to the show with 130 Holstein Friesians and between 35 and 40 Jersey entries for this year’s show.

“We have five or six new competitors coming to Millstreet for the first time this year,” said John. The judge this year is Michael Gould. Michael owns the well-known Woodmarsh Holsteins of Shrewsbury, England. He milks 300 pedigree Holsteins with a herd average of 12,500kg (2,670 gallons).

His previous judging experience includes the UK National Holstein Show, the Royal Highland Show, the Holland HHH Show, the Australian National Holstein Show, Balmoral Winter Fair, the National Herds Competitions and many Irish shows.

Commenting on the task ahead, Michael said: “I will be looking for a cow with dairy strength and capacity that has great mobility as well as a top class udder.”

The National Dairy Show will incorporate all aspects of dairy farming with the showmanship classes and the dairy classes (both Holstein Friesian and Jersey) forming a major part of the event. The record prize fund for this event is spread over 25 classes. Judging will begin at 9am sharp and will continue throughout the day, culminating in the crowning of the supreme champion at 4pm. The first four classes of the day are showmanship classes where budding young enthusiasts will display their talents and compete for the champion handler title.

Many prizewinners from the summer shows will compete for the junior champion accolade. Contenders will include the champion and reserve champion of the YMA National Finals, Hallow Boss Twain from the Jones family, Gorey, Co Wexford, and Swiftsheath Windmarsh Mia exhibited by Pat Gaynor from Co Cavan. Also in contention will be Lisnacunna Aftershock Passion from Patrick Coffey’s herd in Co Cork.

The Jersey section continues to go from strength to strength. Well known names include Pat Ahern, Avril Helen and Robert Shannon flying the Cork flag but they will be hard pressed by Seamus Shannon (Cavan), Michael Booth (Laois) and the Tyrell family from Co Laois. The highlight of the Jersey section will be the crowning of the Jersey champion of the show at 2pm.

The intermediate championship always captures the attention of Holstein enthusiasts as the winner of this section normally matures into a show cow that will compete at the top in future years. Heading the charge for intermediate champion will be this year’s All-Ireland heifer in milk champion and reserve, namely Paul Flanagan’s (Louth) Tubbertoby Atwood Maddie and the formidable combination of Dowling and Bourke (Dublin) and their Baldonnel Goldie Larissa.

Leading the charge for supreme champion will be last year’s champion Ridgefield Dundee Portea having already being reserve at this year’s Emerald Expo and Bailey’s. Her herd mate, Croagh Susie Mist 46, champion at Emerald Expo 2013, is also in the running. The intermediate champion of a few years ago, Clonpaddin Goldwyn Fanta, owned by the Hurley Family, Co Wicklow, is reported to be looking very well. Another contender is the consistent Dalevalley OTI Lulu from the Murphy family near Cork city.

The show is the shop window for the Holstein and Jersey breeds and a great occasion to promote the best in Irish dairy cattle breeding to a local and international audience.