The pure Friesian open day took place last week on the farm of Peadar and Maureen Healy, Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny. The home of Firoda Friesians, the farm last hosted the open day 10 years ago.

Having farmed in Castlecomer for over 60 years, the herd now amounts to 120 cows, which have an average yield of 6,500kg of 3.74% fat and 3.63% protein.

This is particularly impressive given the herd maintains an average calving interval of just 360 days. These production figures, along with 43 of the cows classifying VG or EX in the latest evaluation, has meant a number of AI companies have secured bulls from the herd in recent years.

The herd is also no stranger to awards, having picked up third place in the pure Friesian club national herds competition in 2018, as well as many IHFA gold and diamond awards for protein production.

National herds competition presentation: (l-r) Francis Fitzgerald (Pure Friesian Club secretary); Patrick Gaynor (IHFA president); Oliver and Michael Dempsey, Barrowvale Herd (third place); Bill O’Keeffe, Churchclara Herd (second place); Micheál Spillane, Mountain Herd (first place); Donal Riordan (of sponsors FBD Insurance); Charlie Gallagher (IHFA CE) and Martin Crowe (Pure Friesian Club chair). \ Maria Kelly

As part of the open day, this year’s winners of the pure Friesian national herds competition were announced as follows:

  • 1st - Micheál Spillane, Mountain Herd.
  • 2nd - Bill O’Keeffe, Churchclara Herd.
  • 3rd - Oliver and Michael Dempsey, Barrowvale Herd.

    • As part of the open day, the herd held a celebratory sale, which saw a 65% clearance of females forward to average €1,600. This average is particularly impressive given all stock forward were born in 2019.

    Topping the sale and achieving a price of €2,300 was the January-born Firoda Lfk Snow. This young calf is sired by Lakemead Randolf and out of the homebred Firoda Gtw Snow 3. Carrying an EBI of €139, Snow has predicted fat and protein percentages of 0.13 and 0.06 respectively.

    The third lot into the ring, Firoda Jrb Twink 2, was next in line for the females, selling for €2,000. This January 2019 born heifer has an EBI of €170 and is a daughter of Dovea Jubilaris. Dam is the VG86 classified cow Firoda Lfk Twink 5, who gave over 7,000kg in her last lactation of 3.61% fat.

    Matching that price tag was the top of the small bull offering, Firoda Jubilaris 16. This young sire is out of Dovea bull Dovea Jubilaris and the homebred Firoda Twink 4. This bull carried an EBI figure of €159 and comes from a long line of EX and VG classified cows.