This year’s event took place in Ardcath, Co Meath, on Collins family farm who run the 200-cow Oldrose herd. Over 40 trade stands, stock judging competitions, award announcements and a celebratory sale were just some of the attractions on the schedule. The event stands as the pinnacle of most breeders’ calendars.
IHFA chief executive Charles Gallagher said: “Despite the weather, people from all over the country turned up. In terms of the cattle that were brought out, longevity was the key theme. These cows showed that they could produce and last six, seven, eight lactations and that sent out a great message.”
While the advantages of the Holstein breed were shown in abundance to all who viewed the herd, one of the main talking points throughout the day was the current dry period we are going through and how best to stretch feed resources.
Leo Collins junior, who took over full control of the farm five years ago, felt this burden even more, having to leave fields spare in the leadup to the event.
“We have had no rain in over a month so three, four weeks ago we started to stretch it. We wanted a bit of green for the open day. We are buffering inside, feeding roughly 10kg meal and 1.5kg of a blend. We’re stretching the grass, simple as that. We have the first cut done, second cut coming in next week,” Leo said.
While stretching the grass was one aspect to keeping the cows producing high yields despite the conditions, Leo said the type of cow the herd now carries is more adapted to being commercially run.
“In the last five years, we are probably breeding a smaller cow, a squarer cow with good feet and legs. We like to keep a nice bit of height and power, but as long as she’s robust, that’s what is most important. It really shows how adaptable to different setups the breed can be.”
The cow families made up the backbone of the herd, and with what has now become common practice at the national open days, a core selection of heifers from these families were offered in a celebratory sale. The sale comprised 33 heifers, including everything from young calves to in-calf heifers.
Despite the current drought being experienced on farms, breeders were still willing to invest in proven family lines.
Last year, the herd averaged over 9,500kg of milk, with milk solids of 722kg/cow. Heifers with dams and grandams exceeding the 10,000kg mark found it that bit easier to be sold, with high-scoring classification cows also seeing an advantage in the sales ring.
Auctioneer Michael Taaffe said they were “extremely happy with the prices received, with some exceeding expectation”.
Top call
Leading the proceedings with a top call of €3,750 was Oldrose Rambo Torch. This stylish 10-month-old heifer is a potential ninth-generation VG/EX classified animal and was sired by OCD Kingboy Rambo.
Her dam line needs no introduction, with the Torch family breeding numerous high-production high-classified cows at Monamore and any later herds they went into.
With her dam Oldrose Ted Torch 2 classifying VG87 and producing over 10,000kg in her second lactation at 3.96% fat and 3.36% protein, this one was an easy sell.
The rising three-year-old Oldrose Dynamite Nora was next in line in terms of prices when she sold for €3,400. The Nora line is very prominent as a homebred family breeding very consistently over the years. It is easy to see why, with Dynamite Nora bred from three generations of 3.60% protein.
The third dam of Dynamite Nora, Champion Nora 2 was one of the standouts in the herd, classifying EX90 and hitting yields of over 9,000kg consistently for nine lactations. This heifer sold steeped in potential, sired by Pellerat Dynamite.
Next up and hitting a high of €3,200 was Oldrose McDougal Deirdre. This October 2017-born heifer already has a championship win under her belt, placing top of the line at last month’s Fingal Show.
Sired by Lady’s Manor McDougal, she is out of homebred Oldrose Dynamite Deirdre, who has a projected second lactation of 9,416kg. This young heifer displays exceptional show prospects and could be a contender for this month’s calf show.
One of the picks of the sale was lot 10 Oldrose Shottle Hazel. This well-grown mostly black two-year-old heifer showed serious class as she was led around the ring. A direct daughter of the prolific show producer Picston Shottle ET, Shottle Hazel is out of what is considered to be one of the best cows ever milked in the Oldrose herd. A full sister to this heifer is currently milking in the herd and produced 10,140kg in her last lactation of 4.61% fat and 3.18% protein. Michael Taaffe dropped the hammer for this heifer at €3,100.
In total, 27 of the 33 heifers on offer sold to average €2,141.
Herd competition
One of the biggest draws for a number of breeders was the much-anticipated announcement of the herd competition winners.
To place anywhere in the final of this competition is a milestone for breeders nationwide, standing as recognition for a quality herd, consistent throughout, which, in some cases, has taken decades to develop.
Over-80 section
1. Rickey Barrett, Laurelelm Herd, Co Cork; 2. Brochan and Joseph Cocoman, Kilwarden Herd, Co Kildare; 3. Aidan and Sally Ann Frawley, Ballytigue Herd, Co Limerick.EBI award: Kevin and Martina Flynn, Reary Herd, Co Laois.Under-80 section
1. Philip and Linda Jones, Hallow Holsteins, Co Wexford; 2. Dermot Jackson, Borkilbeg Herd, Co Wicklow; 3. John and Eoin Horgan, Coshma Herd, Co Limerick.EBI award: Noel O’Donovan, Ringleader Herd, Co Cork.Spring section
1. Michael and Margaret Laffan, Everground Herd, Co Limerick; 2. Henry and Liam O’Keeffe, Radney Herd, Co Cork; 3. Noel and Michael Kehoe, Cathu Herd, Co Wexford.EBI award: Henry and Liam O’Keeffe, Radney Herd, Co Cork, and Michael Kiernan, Knockcais Herd, Co Meath.Judge’s Choice Award
1. Brochan and Joseph Cocoman, Kilwarden Herd, Co Kildare; 2. Philip and Linda Jones, Hallow Holsteins, Co Wexford; 3. Tony and Paul Daly, Curtles Herd, Co Meath.Judge’s recognition award: Michael and Noreen Maunsell, Maunsell Herd, Co Kerry.The inter-club stock judging competition also took place last Wednesday, with participants asked to judge a number of the Oldrose cows which were broken into a number of classes varying in ages. The winners were as follows:
Over-27 years
1. Limerick/Clare - Derek Frawley, John Curtin, Mike McNamara 4010; 2. Northern Ireland - John Patterson, William Patton, Sam McCormick 4002; 3. Breffni/Oriel - Seamus Shannon, Kenneth Boyd, Seamus Gunn 3972.Highest individual: Daniel Curtin (Kerry) 1390.18 to 26 years
1. Laois/Offaly - William Neville, Ethan Keena, Ashling Neville 3974; 2. Kerry - Jack Goulding, Padraig Broderick, Christopher Heffernan 3954; 3. Carlow/Kilkenny - Simon Lanigan, Fabienne Jacobs, Doireann Mulhall 3950.Highest individual: Leslie Draper (Cork) 1354.Under 18 years
1. Limerick/Clare - Jane Hannan, Claire Hannan, Aimee O’Donovan 3978; 2. Breffni/Oriel - Ryan Greenan, Deane McCoy, Mark McCoy 3973; 3. Galway - Megan Boal, Sarah O’Grady, Aoibheann Screene 3952.Highest individual: Sean Gerard Walsh (Kildare) 1348.While the event resulted in a lot of added work, particularly in the tough year we are experiencing, Leo said it was an “absolute privilege to be asked”.
Speaking after the sale, Leo said: “It was a super day, with a great turnout and a good sale. I would like to thank the IHFA for the show and the help, my own club who put in an amount of work over the last few months and Gary Jones and his clipping team. I hope everybody really enjoyed the day, and, finally, I’d like to thank all my family, my wife and two kids in particular, for putting up with the last eight weeks of very little contact.”
This year’s event took place in Ardcath, Co Meath, on Collins family farm who run the 200-cow Oldrose herd. Over 40 trade stands, stock judging competitions, award announcements and a celebratory sale were just some of the attractions on the schedule. The event stands as the pinnacle of most breeders’ calendars.
IHFA chief executive Charles Gallagher said: “Despite the weather, people from all over the country turned up. In terms of the cattle that were brought out, longevity was the key theme. These cows showed that they could produce and last six, seven, eight lactations and that sent out a great message.”
While the advantages of the Holstein breed were shown in abundance to all who viewed the herd, one of the main talking points throughout the day was the current dry period we are going through and how best to stretch feed resources.
Leo Collins junior, who took over full control of the farm five years ago, felt this burden even more, having to leave fields spare in the leadup to the event.
“We have had no rain in over a month so three, four weeks ago we started to stretch it. We wanted a bit of green for the open day. We are buffering inside, feeding roughly 10kg meal and 1.5kg of a blend. We’re stretching the grass, simple as that. We have the first cut done, second cut coming in next week,” Leo said.
While stretching the grass was one aspect to keeping the cows producing high yields despite the conditions, Leo said the type of cow the herd now carries is more adapted to being commercially run.
“In the last five years, we are probably breeding a smaller cow, a squarer cow with good feet and legs. We like to keep a nice bit of height and power, but as long as she’s robust, that’s what is most important. It really shows how adaptable to different setups the breed can be.”
The cow families made up the backbone of the herd, and with what has now become common practice at the national open days, a core selection of heifers from these families were offered in a celebratory sale. The sale comprised 33 heifers, including everything from young calves to in-calf heifers.
Despite the current drought being experienced on farms, breeders were still willing to invest in proven family lines.
Last year, the herd averaged over 9,500kg of milk, with milk solids of 722kg/cow. Heifers with dams and grandams exceeding the 10,000kg mark found it that bit easier to be sold, with high-scoring classification cows also seeing an advantage in the sales ring.
Auctioneer Michael Taaffe said they were “extremely happy with the prices received, with some exceeding expectation”.
Top call
Leading the proceedings with a top call of €3,750 was Oldrose Rambo Torch. This stylish 10-month-old heifer is a potential ninth-generation VG/EX classified animal and was sired by OCD Kingboy Rambo.
Her dam line needs no introduction, with the Torch family breeding numerous high-production high-classified cows at Monamore and any later herds they went into.
With her dam Oldrose Ted Torch 2 classifying VG87 and producing over 10,000kg in her second lactation at 3.96% fat and 3.36% protein, this one was an easy sell.
The rising three-year-old Oldrose Dynamite Nora was next in line in terms of prices when she sold for €3,400. The Nora line is very prominent as a homebred family breeding very consistently over the years. It is easy to see why, with Dynamite Nora bred from three generations of 3.60% protein.
The third dam of Dynamite Nora, Champion Nora 2 was one of the standouts in the herd, classifying EX90 and hitting yields of over 9,000kg consistently for nine lactations. This heifer sold steeped in potential, sired by Pellerat Dynamite.
Next up and hitting a high of €3,200 was Oldrose McDougal Deirdre. This October 2017-born heifer already has a championship win under her belt, placing top of the line at last month’s Fingal Show.
Sired by Lady’s Manor McDougal, she is out of homebred Oldrose Dynamite Deirdre, who has a projected second lactation of 9,416kg. This young heifer displays exceptional show prospects and could be a contender for this month’s calf show.
One of the picks of the sale was lot 10 Oldrose Shottle Hazel. This well-grown mostly black two-year-old heifer showed serious class as she was led around the ring. A direct daughter of the prolific show producer Picston Shottle ET, Shottle Hazel is out of what is considered to be one of the best cows ever milked in the Oldrose herd. A full sister to this heifer is currently milking in the herd and produced 10,140kg in her last lactation of 4.61% fat and 3.18% protein. Michael Taaffe dropped the hammer for this heifer at €3,100.
In total, 27 of the 33 heifers on offer sold to average €2,141.
Herd competition
One of the biggest draws for a number of breeders was the much-anticipated announcement of the herd competition winners.
To place anywhere in the final of this competition is a milestone for breeders nationwide, standing as recognition for a quality herd, consistent throughout, which, in some cases, has taken decades to develop.
Over-80 section
1. Rickey Barrett, Laurelelm Herd, Co Cork; 2. Brochan and Joseph Cocoman, Kilwarden Herd, Co Kildare; 3. Aidan and Sally Ann Frawley, Ballytigue Herd, Co Limerick.EBI award: Kevin and Martina Flynn, Reary Herd, Co Laois.Under-80 section
1. Philip and Linda Jones, Hallow Holsteins, Co Wexford; 2. Dermot Jackson, Borkilbeg Herd, Co Wicklow; 3. John and Eoin Horgan, Coshma Herd, Co Limerick.EBI award: Noel O’Donovan, Ringleader Herd, Co Cork.Spring section
1. Michael and Margaret Laffan, Everground Herd, Co Limerick; 2. Henry and Liam O’Keeffe, Radney Herd, Co Cork; 3. Noel and Michael Kehoe, Cathu Herd, Co Wexford.EBI award: Henry and Liam O’Keeffe, Radney Herd, Co Cork, and Michael Kiernan, Knockcais Herd, Co Meath.Judge’s Choice Award
1. Brochan and Joseph Cocoman, Kilwarden Herd, Co Kildare; 2. Philip and Linda Jones, Hallow Holsteins, Co Wexford; 3. Tony and Paul Daly, Curtles Herd, Co Meath.Judge’s recognition award: Michael and Noreen Maunsell, Maunsell Herd, Co Kerry.The inter-club stock judging competition also took place last Wednesday, with participants asked to judge a number of the Oldrose cows which were broken into a number of classes varying in ages. The winners were as follows:
Over-27 years
1. Limerick/Clare - Derek Frawley, John Curtin, Mike McNamara 4010; 2. Northern Ireland - John Patterson, William Patton, Sam McCormick 4002; 3. Breffni/Oriel - Seamus Shannon, Kenneth Boyd, Seamus Gunn 3972.Highest individual: Daniel Curtin (Kerry) 1390.18 to 26 years
1. Laois/Offaly - William Neville, Ethan Keena, Ashling Neville 3974; 2. Kerry - Jack Goulding, Padraig Broderick, Christopher Heffernan 3954; 3. Carlow/Kilkenny - Simon Lanigan, Fabienne Jacobs, Doireann Mulhall 3950.Highest individual: Leslie Draper (Cork) 1354.Under 18 years
1. Limerick/Clare - Jane Hannan, Claire Hannan, Aimee O’Donovan 3978; 2. Breffni/Oriel - Ryan Greenan, Deane McCoy, Mark McCoy 3973; 3. Galway - Megan Boal, Sarah O’Grady, Aoibheann Screene 3952.Highest individual: Sean Gerard Walsh (Kildare) 1348.While the event resulted in a lot of added work, particularly in the tough year we are experiencing, Leo said it was an “absolute privilege to be asked”.
Speaking after the sale, Leo said: “It was a super day, with a great turnout and a good sale. I would like to thank the IHFA for the show and the help, my own club who put in an amount of work over the last few months and Gary Jones and his clipping team. I hope everybody really enjoyed the day, and, finally, I’d like to thank all my family, my wife and two kids in particular, for putting up with the last eight weeks of very little contact.”
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