The Irish Farmers Journal stand at this year’s Tullamore Show will see a clear focus on pedigree breeding. Throughout the day, live demonstrations will go through all things pedigree, focusing on certain aspects in particular such as judging, grooming, clipping and showmanship. There will be particular emphasis on advice for newcomers to the showing world, but also expert tips along the way, which will stand to all in attendance and may be invaluable the next time you enter a show ring. We need our younger generations of all breeds to continue to show cattle

Demo 1 - Judging 10:30am

What exactly is the judge looking for when the animals enter the ring? While beef cattle, dairy cattle and sheep are all judged differently, we will have people on hand to go through the basics of each. Listen to some judges go through the finer points of what they look for when choosing an animal, and what makes one animal better than the next. From structural correctness to balance and quality, we’ll cover it all, and even better open the floor to any questions that come to mind.

Demo 2 - Grooming 12:00pm

With such a broad array of grooming products for cattle and sheep on the market these days, it’s easy to get a little confused. There are products for short hair, long hair, winter hair and everything in between, but what is the best to make your animal stand out from the crowd? We go through some of the more common ones used around at shows, and explain when is best to use each of them.

Demo 3 - Clipping 1:30pm

Being able to clip an animal properly will go further towards your chances of winning a rosette then any amount of product. Across the range of livestock on display in Tullamore, each sector is different in the way they clip there animals. However, whatever the sector, clipping can transform cattle, drawing emphasis to the better qualities an animal carries and covering up its weaker points.

Demo 4 - Showmanship 3:00pm

With animals judged, clipped and groomed, the only thing left to do is show them as best they can be shown. We will start at the beginning from when you first enter the ring and bring you through the entire procedure that follows right up to the lineup of prize winners. We will also feature some tips for young handler classes and what exactly it is the judges are looking for when in the ring.

Whether young or old, there will be tips to pick up throughout the day for even the most experienced of breeders. If new to the scene, come along and see the live demonstrations and join the phenomenon that showing has become in recent years.

Are you going to Tullamore and AIB National Livestock Show 2016?

Get the most out of the show with the new Irish Farmers Journal Tullamore Show iPhone app. This app is all you need for the latest news from this year’s show, which takes place on Sunday 14 August 2016.

To download the app, follow these links:

  • on an Apple iPhone or iPad, find the Tullamore Show app by the Irish Farmers Journal on the iTunes store

  • on an Android smartphone, find the Tullamore Show app by the Irish Farmers Journal on the Google Play store

    • The app is free to download and offers unlimited access to free content.

    Read more

    Read the full Focus section on Tullamore Show here