Guess the weight competitions

Similar to previous years, Angus Beef Ireland shared a marquee with the Irish Aberdeen Angus Association at this year’s Ploughing.

A guess the carcase weight competition of two Angus bullocks was held over the three days, with all proceeds going to the Cycle Against Suicide charity.

The winner of the €1,000 cash prize was Mary Prunty from Ballinalee, Co Longford. The amount raised from the competition was kindly matched by the group’s processing partners Dawn Meats, Dunbia Foyle Meats, Liffey Meats and Slaney Foods.

The Parthenaise society also held a carcase competition, with competitors having to guess the deadweight and liveweight of the pedigree bull on show.

Guessing the live weight of 760kg correctly and only 2kg off on the deadweight of 511.7kg was Emma Brophy, Vicarstown, Co Laois.

A Ploughing to remember

The dust is now well and truly settled on the Ploughing championships of 2016, but for a lucky few, it stands as one that won’t be forgotten.

Each year, people are drawn to the livestock area, where societies have become synonymous with raffling off pedigree heifers for, in most cases, as little as €2 per line.

Having won the heifer for as little as €2, they usually go on to breed luckily for the new breeders, in many cases standing as the foundation female for a new herd. Below are this year’s winners:

Irish Aubrac Cattle Society winner: Alex Forde, Co Monaghan. Irish Angus Cattle Society winner: Announced at society’s annual dinner dance. Irish Charolais Cattle Society winner: Fintan McCormack, Drumaney, Co Westmeath (This heifer was kindly donated by Jim and Catherine Geoghean of the Lisnagre herd and raised a massive €17,120 for Crumlin Hospital). Commercial Cattle Exhibitors Society winner: Announced at society’s annual dinner dance. Irish Holstein Friesian Association winner: Trevor Stephenson, English Town, Baltinglass, Co Wicklow. Irish Saler Cattle Society winner: Degan Considine, Kilrush, Co Clare. Irish Shorthorn Cattle Society winner: Anna Walsh, Mulhussey, Kilcock, Co Meath. Irish Simmental Cattle Society winner: Glen Patterson, Kiltycooley, Drum, Co Sligo.

Kerry Holstein club

The Kerry Holstein Friesian Breeders Club held its awards night in September at the Balllyroe Heights Hotel, sponsored by Dairymaster and judged by Chris Mulally, Co Meath. The competition comprises spring and autumn sections.

Spring section winners:

Highest production herd: Richard Langford, Killorglin. Highest conformation herd: William Horgan, Killarney.

Lowest SCC herd: Patrick Costello, Killorglin. Lifetime production cow: Richard Langford, Killorglin. Highest cow kg protein: JP O’Carroll, Causeway.

Senior section herds: 1st William Horgan, Killarney. Intermediate section herds: 1st JP O’Carroll, Causeway. Junior section herds: 1st John Walsh, Scartaglin.

Autumn section winners:

Highest production herd: Maurice Harty, Ballyheigue. Highest conformation herd: Maurice Harty, Ballyheigue. Lowest SCC herd: Seamus Curran, Killoglin. Lifetime production cow: Maurice Harty, Ballyheigue. Highest cow kg protein: Hugh Dwyer, Killorglin. Senior section herds: 1st Maurice Harty, Ballyheigue. Intermediate section herds: 1st Gerard & Ann O’Hanlon, Ballyduff. Junior A section herds: 1st John Galvin, Dingle.

Overall highest EBI herd: John King, Lixnaw. Overall champion cow: Donal O’Connell, Ballyheigue. New entrants section: Padraig Barry, Lixnaw.