With many pedigree classes now ajudicated, some of the big winners at the 25th anniversary Tullamore Show can already be announced.

The first cattle breed to declare its champion was in the dairy ring, with the Jersey title going to Eamonn McLoughney's Ribblesdale Excitation Willow cow.

In the Angus ring, Co Cork breeder Albert De Cogan claimed the champion's sash with one of his bulls.

There has been a strong showing by Donegal breeders in the commercial cattle section, with four rosettes going to the county.

In the sheep rings, a special mention goes to local Beltex breeders John and Sean Browne, who presented all four sheep contesting the breed championship and de facto claimed champion and reserve.

Follow the Irish Farmers Journal pedigree team on Twitter for results as they come in and read more later on at www.farmersjournal.ie

Visitors flocked to the Irish Farmers Journal stand for livestock and pedigree demonstrations focused on efficient breeding and showing across dairy, beef and sheep. Watch one of the demos below and read the related technical informations sheets here.

Safety and health to the fore

Animal health is a concern for farmers as well as the numerous pharma and agricultural inptus exhibiting at the show - and for MEP Mairead McGuinness, who warned that "anti-microbial resistance is a massive issue" with political pressure building for stricter regulation.

She said that a closer look was needed at all agricultural inputs, including in the interest of the farmers' own health and safety.

Preventing farm accidents around animals was also a feature of the safety demonstrations organised around the show. The message from the main safety arena was that "heifers and cows may look like the most docile animals, but at some point in the year, calving plays with their hormones" and they should never be taken for granted.

Meanwhile, a scale model of a farm was on display on the Irish Farmers Journal stand for children to spot the dangers and learn how to avoid them.

Speaking at the show's opening, junior Agriculture Minsiter Andrew Doyle mentioned the 12 farm deaths so far this year, highlighting that they represent "50% of the workplace deaths from just 6% of the (overall) workforce".

Farm incomes

All farm organisations are represented on the show and highlight farm incomes. Despite the recent announcements that some co-ops were increasing milk prices by 1c/l, the focus remains on getting a better return for farmers after months of declining margins across all sectors.

The IFA tent in Tullamore is adorned with posters calling on Agriculture Minister Michael Creed to take action to support farmers in the upcoming budget. Visiting the show, IFA president Joe Healy remarked that beef rices were now 40c/kg or €145 lower than during the event last year. “This is having a severe income hit on farmers selling finished cattle off grass and also weanling and store producers selling at the marts. Minister Creed must deliver real access to new markets and strong competition in the trade in order to return viable prices to farmers,” he added.

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Full coverage: Tullamore show