The Royal Dublin Society Champion of Champions Awards were presented this week to winning cattle and sheep breeders, young stockpersons and the owners of the country’s top EBI cow. This year, the top maternal beef index cow was also included.

Award winners

  • Irish Angus: Goulding Missie M535, owned by Matthew Goulding, Ballyduff, Co Kerry.
  • Irish Aberdeen Angus: Rosemead Karona, Albert and Jennifer de Cogan, Castlemartyr, Co. Cork.
  • Belgian Blue: Boherard Hurricane, David Pearson, Ballacolla, Co Laois.
  • Charolais: Cassa Izzy and Cassina Jake, Martin Clyne, Edgeworthstown, Co Longford.
  • Hereford: Cave Hill Storm, Padraig Farrell and family, Athlone.
  • Holstein Friesian: Glaslough Miss Petra, David and Kenneth Boyd, Glaslough, Co Monaghan.
  • Limousin cattle: Milbrook Ginger Spice, William Smith, Oldcastle, Co Meath.
  • Simmental: Clonagh Dora the Explorer, Garret Behan, Ballyfin, Co Laois.
  • Charollais sheep: The Lisfuncheon Princess, Eddie and Paul O’Gorman of Ballyporeen, Co Tipperary.
  • Suffolk: Arthur O’Keeffe, Mallow, Co Cork.
  • Texel: Stathbogie Uno, John Greene, Culduff, Co Donegal.
  • Wicklow Cheviot: David Corrigan, Newbridge, Co Kildare.
  • RDS midland and western livestock improvement society young stockperson award: Shannon Kinahan, Kilfinane, Co Limerick.
  • RDS commercial cattle exhibitor young stockperson award: Conor Craig, Edgeworthstown, Co Longford.
  • Economic breeding index champion: Rossbheag Nuala, owned by David Kerr, Portlaoise, Co Laois.

    • Winning the dairy EBI RDS Champion of Champions for 2015, David Kerr’s Rossbheag Nuala has an EBI of €304, compared with the national average of €125, and is number one in the EBI rankings. In her 15 years, she has had 13 calves, yielded almost five tonnes of milk solids in her lifetime, with an average calving interval of 368 days.

  • Maternal index champion: Aubrac cow Ballinclea Babette, owned by Ernest Mackey. From a Donard farm in Co Wicklow, this year’s champion is five stars within and across breed for ICBF with a replacement index of €326. She is also five stars for ‘‘Daughter Milk’’ with 6.2kg, daughter calving interval -3.62 days, terminal index €143 and is also the mother of the G€N€ Ireland bull VEZ .

    • Cattle awards winners receive €1,000 each, as well as an RDS medal and the RDS Spring Show cup for the year. Sheep winners receive €400 plus a medal and cup. EBI winners receive €500, plus a medal, while the young stockpersons receive a medal.

    IHFA celebrate 50 years at Emerald Expo

    The 2015 Emerald Expo Dairy Show, which takes place at Punchestown Racecourse on Saturday 11 April, will celebrate 50 years of the Irish Holstein Friesian Association (IHFA). Special commemorative IHFA medallions will be presented to this year’s class winners.

    Speaking at a press launch this week, IHFA CEO Charlie Gallagher said that Emerald Expo 2015 will be the first national dairy event in the new post-quota era.

    Show director Richard Whelan said that the move to the Punchestown Centre gives scope for the increase in exhibitors, visitors and patrons that are expected this year.

    Along with Alltech Ireland, FBD will support Emerald Expo 2015.

    This all-breeds dairy show of Holsteins, Irish Pure Friesians, Shorthorns and Jerseys attracts visitors from all over the Republic and Northern Ireland.