Some of the finest Holstein Friesian genetics in Ireland will be on show at this year’s Diageo Baileys Champion Dairy Cow Competition, taking place at the Virginia Show on Wednesday 20 August.

According to competition co-ordinator Patrick Gaynor, it’s not just the €13,000 prize fund that has attracted a strong response from breeders across Ireland this year. Entered in the competition are 28 top-class cows, including a record eight coming from Northern Ireland, representing counties Antrim, Armagh, Down and Derry, with southern exhibitors traveling from as far away as Kerry, Tipperary, Limerick and Cork.

Warm welcome

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Speaking on the event, Patrick Gaynor paid tribute to the support of both the Irish Holstein Friesian Association (IHFA) and Holstein NI, crediting the warm welcome and the prestige of the “Baileys Cow” title as the main draw for exhibitors.

“The welcome competitors receive from the organisers and sponsors as well as the prestige of even taking part in a competition as well-known as ‘the Baileys’ is I believe what makes it special,” he said.

Now in its fifth decade, the competition continues to be one of the most sought-after titles in the pedigree dairy community, backed by one of the longest-running sponsorship partnerships in Irish agriculture – between Diageo, owner of Baileys Irish Cream, and its cream supplier Tirlán. The cream for Baileys is produced down the road from the showgrounds at Tirlán’s Virginia site, making the event a showcase for the global brand’s Irish provenance.

Italian judge

Judging duties this year will fall to Italian breeder Giuseppe Beltramino from Northern Italy, with MC duties being handled by well-known auctioneer, Michael Taaffe.

Proceedings will get underway at 3pm, preceded by a parade of the Holstein Friesians entering the main ring. A special VIP guest will join Diageo Ireland’s Corporate Relations Director Shane Kelly and Tirlán Chairperson John Murphy to present the top prize and the Virginia Milk Products Cup trophy.