Over 1,000 people attended the Irish Pure Friesian Open Day, which took place on the O’Keeffe family farm in Clara, Co Kilkenny. Bill, Phil and Matt O’Keeffe manage the Churchclara pedigree herd and milk over 200 pedigree-registered Friesian cows.
Having started out originally with Shorthorn and Ayrshire, British Friesian genetics were first introduced to Churchclara in the 1960s.
Over the years, purchases from the Blackisle herd in Scotland, the Castledale herd in Co Down and from the Hennessy family’s Barrowcore herd in Co Kilkenny were made. Indeed, the Barrowcore herd brought a lot of bull dams to Churchclara in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
In the late 1990s, the herd was graded up to pedigree. Average herd production last year was 6,057kg of milk at 4.22 % fat and 3.62% protein. SCC for the year was 64. The average calving interval was 367 days, with a 9% empty rate after a 10-week breeding season.
Of the herd, 68% is classified in the top two grades of conformation.
There are plans to expand further and develop the business, with Bill setting out herd targets of 7,000kg of milk at 8% milk solids (and higher) and an empty rate of 5% over the next five years. The plan is to milk 210 cows in 2015 and then rise to 320 in 2016 on the home farm, with some additional ground leased in 2016.
The numbers of young stock have grown rapidly over the past three years, with 156 maiden heifers going to the bull in 2015 to help expand the herd in 2016.
Recently, the O’Keeffe family enjoyed show success when Bill took the champion pure Friesian and honourable mention awards, the EBI award and the premier exhibitor awards at the 2015 Emerald Expo in Punchestown.
Later that evening, 20 heifer calves, all born this year, from the Churchclara herd were offered for sale. A top price of €2,300 was given for Churchclara Dest Laura – a granddaughter of Blackisle Laura 68 EX94-5E, the champion Friesian cow at the 2015 Emerald Expo. Following close behind at €2,200 was Churchclara Dan Circus whose mother, Churchclara Blackie Circus, won the honourable mention Pure Friesian award at the 2015 Emerald Expo. All 20 calves sold for an average price of €1,150.
The results of the stock judging competition were:
Under 18s:
1. Stephen Shannon, Ballinascarthy, Co Cork.2. Conor Lehane, Timoleague, Co Cork.18 to 26:
1. Padraic Murphy, Kilmanagh, Co Kilkenny.2. Shane Hegarty, Bilboa, Co Carlow.Senior:
1. John O’ Donovan, Carrigaline, Co Cork.2. Patrick Kelly, Cahir, Co Tipperary.
Over 1,000 people attended the Irish Pure Friesian Open Day, which took place on the O’Keeffe family farm in Clara, Co Kilkenny. Bill, Phil and Matt O’Keeffe manage the Churchclara pedigree herd and milk over 200 pedigree-registered Friesian cows.
Having started out originally with Shorthorn and Ayrshire, British Friesian genetics were first introduced to Churchclara in the 1960s.
Over the years, purchases from the Blackisle herd in Scotland, the Castledale herd in Co Down and from the Hennessy family’s Barrowcore herd in Co Kilkenny were made. Indeed, the Barrowcore herd brought a lot of bull dams to Churchclara in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
In the late 1990s, the herd was graded up to pedigree. Average herd production last year was 6,057kg of milk at 4.22 % fat and 3.62% protein. SCC for the year was 64. The average calving interval was 367 days, with a 9% empty rate after a 10-week breeding season.
Of the herd, 68% is classified in the top two grades of conformation.
There are plans to expand further and develop the business, with Bill setting out herd targets of 7,000kg of milk at 8% milk solids (and higher) and an empty rate of 5% over the next five years. The plan is to milk 210 cows in 2015 and then rise to 320 in 2016 on the home farm, with some additional ground leased in 2016.
The numbers of young stock have grown rapidly over the past three years, with 156 maiden heifers going to the bull in 2015 to help expand the herd in 2016.
Recently, the O’Keeffe family enjoyed show success when Bill took the champion pure Friesian and honourable mention awards, the EBI award and the premier exhibitor awards at the 2015 Emerald Expo in Punchestown.
Later that evening, 20 heifer calves, all born this year, from the Churchclara herd were offered for sale. A top price of €2,300 was given for Churchclara Dest Laura – a granddaughter of Blackisle Laura 68 EX94-5E, the champion Friesian cow at the 2015 Emerald Expo. Following close behind at €2,200 was Churchclara Dan Circus whose mother, Churchclara Blackie Circus, won the honourable mention Pure Friesian award at the 2015 Emerald Expo. All 20 calves sold for an average price of €1,150.
The results of the stock judging competition were:
Under 18s:
1. Stephen Shannon, Ballinascarthy, Co Cork.2. Conor Lehane, Timoleague, Co Cork.18 to 26:
1. Padraic Murphy, Kilmanagh, Co Kilkenny.2. Shane Hegarty, Bilboa, Co Carlow.Senior:
1. John O’ Donovan, Carrigaline, Co Cork.2. Patrick Kelly, Cahir, Co Tipperary. 
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