Macra completed its first ever online Ornua dairy stockjudging final, which saw 39 members compete in the senior and U23 categories. Competitors completed an academic test online, as well as judging a series of photos of six cows, followed by six heifers. Written reasons were submitted for the cows, with judges on hand to score.
While the presiding officers were totalling up the scores, the competitors were joined by master judge Ricky Barrett as the results were livestreamed on the Macra na Feirme Facebook page.
Thank you to our sponsor Ornua, organisers, presiding officers, judges and IHFA breeders for making this competition a success.
Senior winner: Diarmaid O’Connell, Donoughmore Macra, Muskerry. Runner-up: Fabian Jacob, North Kilkenny Macra, Kilkenny.U23 winner: Patrick Horgan, Moynalty Macra, Meath. Runner-up: Fiona Wilshaw, Killarney Macra, Kerry.Interview with 2020 senior dairy stockjudging winner Diarmuid O’Connell
Tell us a bit about your background?
I farm at home with my parents and brother in Donoughmore, Co Cork. We run a spring-calving herd of 96 cows which we hope to expand to 120 cows in the coming year. Alongside this, we run a beef unit on which we carry the progeny of the dairy herd to store bullocks and finish the Angus and Hereford cross heifers at 20 to 22 months.
We also run a herd of 40 purebred Angus and Hereford cows that calve in the summer and early autumn. The bulls are sold for breeding at 18 to 22 months old. I completed my agricultural education in Darra agricultural college in Clonakilty.
What preparation did you do before the final?
Aoibheann Murphy, also from the Donoughmore club, organised virtual dairy stockjudging earlier in the spring and that was a big help as I had to take the pictures of my own cows and then get judges’ feedback, while Aoibheann took the pictures of the heifers.
From an early age, my father brought me and my siblings to IHFA field evenings and a few agricultural shows so constantly I was watching cows for faults and learning placings and, most importantly, why they were placed in a particular order.
Being an U23 dairy stockjudging winner and now a senior winner, what do you feel the online competition brought to your judging knowledge that judging on the ground wouldn’t?
I presume the transferable skills from using Zoom and Microsoft Teams for educational purposes during the lockdown helped me a lot. I was used to using the Kahoot app from the classroom so I was familiar with the format. Timing was key as well as I had to be disciplined and allocate a set amount of time to type my answers and view the cows. It was key to look at all the views of the cow.
What advice would you give to members hoping to participate in this competition in the future?
Learning does not stop on the completion of school or college education. People should avail of the discussion groups, Macra clubs and breed society events to enhance their learning.
Peer learning should be availed off as well as advice from older farmers who are good stockpersons.
If unsuccessful, I would encourage people to talk to the judge and look for feedback on where to improve.
Macra completed its first ever online Ornua dairy stockjudging final, which saw 39 members compete in the senior and U23 categories. Competitors completed an academic test online, as well as judging a series of photos of six cows, followed by six heifers. Written reasons were submitted for the cows, with judges on hand to score.
While the presiding officers were totalling up the scores, the competitors were joined by master judge Ricky Barrett as the results were livestreamed on the Macra na Feirme Facebook page.
Thank you to our sponsor Ornua, organisers, presiding officers, judges and IHFA breeders for making this competition a success.
Senior winner: Diarmaid O’Connell, Donoughmore Macra, Muskerry. Runner-up: Fabian Jacob, North Kilkenny Macra, Kilkenny.U23 winner: Patrick Horgan, Moynalty Macra, Meath. Runner-up: Fiona Wilshaw, Killarney Macra, Kerry.Interview with 2020 senior dairy stockjudging winner Diarmuid O’Connell
Tell us a bit about your background?
I farm at home with my parents and brother in Donoughmore, Co Cork. We run a spring-calving herd of 96 cows which we hope to expand to 120 cows in the coming year. Alongside this, we run a beef unit on which we carry the progeny of the dairy herd to store bullocks and finish the Angus and Hereford cross heifers at 20 to 22 months.
We also run a herd of 40 purebred Angus and Hereford cows that calve in the summer and early autumn. The bulls are sold for breeding at 18 to 22 months old. I completed my agricultural education in Darra agricultural college in Clonakilty.
What preparation did you do before the final?
Aoibheann Murphy, also from the Donoughmore club, organised virtual dairy stockjudging earlier in the spring and that was a big help as I had to take the pictures of my own cows and then get judges’ feedback, while Aoibheann took the pictures of the heifers.
From an early age, my father brought me and my siblings to IHFA field evenings and a few agricultural shows so constantly I was watching cows for faults and learning placings and, most importantly, why they were placed in a particular order.
Being an U23 dairy stockjudging winner and now a senior winner, what do you feel the online competition brought to your judging knowledge that judging on the ground wouldn’t?
I presume the transferable skills from using Zoom and Microsoft Teams for educational purposes during the lockdown helped me a lot. I was used to using the Kahoot app from the classroom so I was familiar with the format. Timing was key as well as I had to be disciplined and allocate a set amount of time to type my answers and view the cows. It was key to look at all the views of the cow.
What advice would you give to members hoping to participate in this competition in the future?
Learning does not stop on the completion of school or college education. People should avail of the discussion groups, Macra clubs and breed society events to enhance their learning.
Peer learning should be availed off as well as advice from older farmers who are good stockpersons.
If unsuccessful, I would encourage people to talk to the judge and look for feedback on where to improve.
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