The IHFA national open day returned to the Rebel County last weekend, with thousands descending on the O’Keeffe family farm, based outside Freemount, and its Radney herd. The herd is run by Henry and Liam O’Keeffe, with the rest of the family, Marie, Alan, Niamh and Julie also contributing on occasions such as this.
Situated in the heart of dairy country, the north Cork location definitely helped in getting extra trade stand exhibitors to attend the national open day. This year’s event attracted in excess of 70 trade stands, making it one of the biggest ever.
However, it was more than just trade stands that many spectators came out to see, with the Radney herd having created a serious reputation for itself in the last two decades.
This reputation is based on the back of generations of high solid yielding cows off a majority grass-based system. Feeding 1.1t of concentrates, solids of 697kg per cow at 4.12% fat and a massive 3.74% protein were achieved last year.
The proven protein sale, which was conducted by Denis Barrett Auctions Pedigree Sales. \ Maria Kelly
This represents the average production of the 90-cow herd, with some animals hitting over 4.5% for fat and 4.15% protein.
The type of cow on the farm would be much smaller than that seen on the show scene in the Holstein section. Showing size isn’t everything; 82 of the 90 cow herd classify VG or EX after their most recent classification.
Particularly noticeable throughout the herd walk was the emphasis on longevity in the herd. An all-spring-calving system, nearly half of the cows in the current herd are in their fourth lactation or higher.
Family lines played a key part in the herd’s development, a key example of this being the Odetta line, which in 2018 won the RDS champion of champions award for best cow family.
This line descends from the 16-lactation Radney Seal Odetta, with her daughter Qur Odetta (nicknamed The Queen) still going strong in her 10th lactation.
This particular cow has both a son and a grandson available through AI, which again helped to increase the profile of the herd even further.
Aside from the herd viewing, the day also consisted of various stock judging competitions, run by both the IHFA and Macra na Feirme, along with the announcement of the national herd competition winners.
The national herd competition is one of the most prestigious awards of the calendar for many breeders, with cows being judged based on both conformation and performance.
The competition was broken up into three different categories; under-80 cow herd, over-80 cow herd and spring section, as well as the judge’s choice award, which is based solely on an animal’s conformation.
Winners of the over-80 herd section of the IHFA national herds competition - John Barrett Snr, Laurelmore Herd, Co Cork (third place); Aidan and Sally Frawley, Ballytigue Herd, Co Limerick (second place); and Phil Cocoman on behalf of Crochan and Joseph Cocoman, Kilwarden Herd, Co Kildare (first place); with IHFA president Patrick Gaynor (left) and Stephen Kelly of sponsors Greenvale Animal Feeds. \ Maria Kelly
Winners of the under-80 herd section of the IHFA national herds competition - Robert and Sylvia Helen, Eedy Herd, Co Cork (third place); Damian Wynne, Rowantree Herd, Co Cavan (second place); and Joan Jackson, Borkilbeg Herd, Co Wicklow (first place); with IHFA president Patrick Gaynor (left) and Stephen Kelly of sponsors Greenvale Animal Feeds. \ Maria Kelly
Winners of the spring herd section of the IHFA national herds competition - James Egan, Tobermartin Herd, Co Kerry (third place); Henry O’Keeffe, Radney Herd, Co Cork (second place); and Brian Kenneally, Bessborough Herd, Co Kilkenny (first place), with IHFA president Patrick Gaynor (left) and Stephen Kelly of sponsor Greenvale Animal Feeds. \ Maria Kelly
Winners of the judge’s choice award - Micheal Spillane, Mountain Herd, Co Tipperary (third place); Aidan and Sally Frawley, Ballytigue Herd, Co Limerick (second place); and Dermot Jackson, Borkilbeg Herd, Co Wicklow (first place), with IHFA president Patrick Gaynor, competition judge Mick Gould and Stephen Kelly of sponsors Greenvale Animal Feeds. \ Maria Kelly
Interclub stock judging
Over 27 years
1. Kerry – Emer Kennelly, Daniel Curtin, Kieran Savage.
2. Breffni Oriel – Trevor Williamson, Andrew Gilliand, Karl Colton.
3. Carlow Kilkenny – Padraic Murphy, Eamon Coleman, Aileen Murphy.
Highest Individual: Karl Colton (Breffni Oriel).
18 – 16 years
1. Kerry – Jack Goulding, Padraic Broderick, Katie Kenneally.
2. North Eastern – Jack Mennis, Mathew Flanagan, Thea Flanagan.
3. Carlow Kilkenny – Simon Lanigan, Doirean Mulhall, Fabian Jacob.
Highest Individual: Michael Healy (Galway) and Jack Goulding (Kerry).
12 – 18 years
1. Cork – Sarah Shannon, Gabby Nagle, Donncha Lynch.
2. Galway – Sarah Grady, Aoibhinn Screene, Stephen Laffey.
3. Kerry – Muiris Harty, Ronan O’Mahony, Oisin Cronin.
Highest Individual: Sarah Grady (Galway).
National herds competition
Over-80 herd
1. Brochan and Joseph Cocoman, Kilwarden Herd, Co Kildare.
2. Aidan and Sally Frawley, Ballytigue Herd, Co Limerick.
3. John Barrett Jnr, Laurelmore Herd, Co Cork.
Under-80 herd
1. Dermot Jackson, Borkilbeg Herd, Co Wicklow.
2. Damian Wynne, Rowantree Club, Co Cavan.
3. Robert and Sylvia Helen, Eedy Herd, Co Cork.
Spring herd
1. Brian Kenneally, Bessborough Herd, Co Kilkenny.
2. Henry and Liam O’Keeffe, Radney Herd, Co Cork.
3. James Egan, Tobermartin Herd, Co Kerry.
Judge’s choice award
1. Dermot Jackson, Borkilbeg Herd, Co Wicklow.
2. Aidan & Sally Frawley, Ballytigue Herd, Co Limerick.
3. Micheal Spillane, Mountian Herd, Co Tipperary.
Judge’s recognition award
Michael and Elizabeth McNamara, Barna Herd, Co Cork.
EBI awards
EBI herd award – Brendan Meade, Stamullen Herd, Co Meath.
EBI animal award – Ballygown PKX 1160, Seamus Knox, Ballygown Herd, Co Kilkenny.
EBI animal award classified VG/EX – Coolnahane GJM Ater VG85, Elizabeth Lane, Coolnahane Herd, Co Cork.
First place in the over-27 category of the interclub stock judging - Daniel Curtin and Emer Kennelly, (Kieran Savage missing from photo) of the Kerry club, with IHFA president Patrick Gaynor (left) and Alymer Power of sponsors Roches Feeds. \ Maria Kelly
Concluding the day, the herd hosted one of the largest celebratory sales ever for an open day comprising of 54 lots.
The sale peaked at €3,300, with six animals selling for prices in excess of €3,000.
Hitting the top price of €3,300 was Radney Alex Odetta, a January 2017-born first-calver which calved in March. A granddaughter of The Queen, she has a projected milk yield of over 8,000kg at 4.03% fat and 3.55% protein. Sired by Cogent Peak Alex, she carries an EBI of €177.
Radney Art Ostrich was next in line selling for €3,200. This January 2018-born heifer sold in-calf to Goldenfield Raphael, with an expected calving date of next February. Herself a daughter of Coolnasoon Art, the €190-EBI heifer is out of a dam whose protein hit 3.79% over a 9,000kg lactation.
Also selling for €3,200 was Radney Ronaldo Deborah. This stylish February 2018-born heifer carried one of the highest EBIs in the catalogue at €216. Sired by Oldcastletown Ronaldo, she is out of the ninth-lactation cow Radney Lsr Deborah, who hit solids of 4.36% fat and 4.08% protein.
Three further lots in the sale went under auctioneer Denis Barrett’s hammer at €3,100. First at the money was the choice of lot 5 or lot 6. Both these animals entered the sales ring together and both were direct daughters of the herd’s Queen cow. After back and forth bidding, the successful bidder took his choice as lot 6, the January 2018-born in-calf heifer Radney Sew Odetta. This mostly black heifer is sired by Searoad Aws Pamela 1 and sold in-calf to sexed semen from Fly-Higher Mod Cade. A daughter of the Queen Odetta, this makes this young heifer a maternal sister to successful AI bull Radney Levi 5.
The next lot to make the money was again related to one of the many successful AI bulls the herd has sold. Radney Yry Deborah 1700, a full sister to Eurogene’s Radney Mill, also hit the market at €3,100.
Last at that money was Radney Hagley Bella. Another January 2018-born heifer, this one sold in-calf to sexed semen from Westcoast Perseus. Sired by De-Su Hagley, her granddam is after five lactations of over 4% protein.
Perhaps the strongest prices of the day were for the maternal sisters Radney Grey Odetta 1726 and Radney Perseus Odetta 1744.
These six-month-old calves entered the ring together, with the top bidder allowed choice, with the second then offered for sale. Both heifers hit the market at €2,900.
Born as the result of ET, both are daughters of Radney Mwl Odetta, who is a full sister to AI bull Radney Levi 5 and the dam of Dovea AI’s Radney Steve.
Sire behind lot 32 is Peak Mr Grey and she carried an EBI of €185. Then lot 40 was a daughter of Westcoast Perseus, with an EBI of €125.
The family also offered up a March 2019-born heifer calf in aid of Marymount Hospice palliative care. The young calf, Radney Lwr Odetta 1813, had an EBI of €173 and was from the same family line as many of the top-priced lots in the sale. She sold for €1,000.
Commenting on the sale auctioneer Denis Barrett said: “We’re very happy with how the sale went off. We had buyers from all over, which helped see the clearance rate hit 94%. Spectators were impressed by the cattle in the field throughout the day and the sale shows that. Particularly impressive is despite 20 of the 48 female lots being under six months of age, average remained high at €2,000.
“I’d like to congratulate the O’Keeffe family on a great day and thank them for the opportunity to run the sale.”
The IHFA national open day returned to the Rebel County last weekend, with thousands descending on the O’Keeffe family farm, based outside Freemount, and its Radney herd. The herd is run by Henry and Liam O’Keeffe, with the rest of the family, Marie, Alan, Niamh and Julie also contributing on occasions such as this.
Situated in the heart of dairy country, the north Cork location definitely helped in getting extra trade stand exhibitors to attend the national open day. This year’s event attracted in excess of 70 trade stands, making it one of the biggest ever.
However, it was more than just trade stands that many spectators came out to see, with the Radney herd having created a serious reputation for itself in the last two decades.
This reputation is based on the back of generations of high solid yielding cows off a majority grass-based system. Feeding 1.1t of concentrates, solids of 697kg per cow at 4.12% fat and a massive 3.74% protein were achieved last year.
The proven protein sale, which was conducted by Denis Barrett Auctions Pedigree Sales. \ Maria Kelly
This represents the average production of the 90-cow herd, with some animals hitting over 4.5% for fat and 4.15% protein.
The type of cow on the farm would be much smaller than that seen on the show scene in the Holstein section. Showing size isn’t everything; 82 of the 90 cow herd classify VG or EX after their most recent classification.
Particularly noticeable throughout the herd walk was the emphasis on longevity in the herd. An all-spring-calving system, nearly half of the cows in the current herd are in their fourth lactation or higher.
Family lines played a key part in the herd’s development, a key example of this being the Odetta line, which in 2018 won the RDS champion of champions award for best cow family.
This line descends from the 16-lactation Radney Seal Odetta, with her daughter Qur Odetta (nicknamed The Queen) still going strong in her 10th lactation.
This particular cow has both a son and a grandson available through AI, which again helped to increase the profile of the herd even further.
Aside from the herd viewing, the day also consisted of various stock judging competitions, run by both the IHFA and Macra na Feirme, along with the announcement of the national herd competition winners.
The national herd competition is one of the most prestigious awards of the calendar for many breeders, with cows being judged based on both conformation and performance.
The competition was broken up into three different categories; under-80 cow herd, over-80 cow herd and spring section, as well as the judge’s choice award, which is based solely on an animal’s conformation.
Winners of the over-80 herd section of the IHFA national herds competition - John Barrett Snr, Laurelmore Herd, Co Cork (third place); Aidan and Sally Frawley, Ballytigue Herd, Co Limerick (second place); and Phil Cocoman on behalf of Crochan and Joseph Cocoman, Kilwarden Herd, Co Kildare (first place); with IHFA president Patrick Gaynor (left) and Stephen Kelly of sponsors Greenvale Animal Feeds. \ Maria Kelly
Winners of the under-80 herd section of the IHFA national herds competition - Robert and Sylvia Helen, Eedy Herd, Co Cork (third place); Damian Wynne, Rowantree Herd, Co Cavan (second place); and Joan Jackson, Borkilbeg Herd, Co Wicklow (first place); with IHFA president Patrick Gaynor (left) and Stephen Kelly of sponsors Greenvale Animal Feeds. \ Maria Kelly
Winners of the spring herd section of the IHFA national herds competition - James Egan, Tobermartin Herd, Co Kerry (third place); Henry O’Keeffe, Radney Herd, Co Cork (second place); and Brian Kenneally, Bessborough Herd, Co Kilkenny (first place), with IHFA president Patrick Gaynor (left) and Stephen Kelly of sponsor Greenvale Animal Feeds. \ Maria Kelly
Winners of the judge’s choice award - Micheal Spillane, Mountain Herd, Co Tipperary (third place); Aidan and Sally Frawley, Ballytigue Herd, Co Limerick (second place); and Dermot Jackson, Borkilbeg Herd, Co Wicklow (first place), with IHFA president Patrick Gaynor, competition judge Mick Gould and Stephen Kelly of sponsors Greenvale Animal Feeds. \ Maria Kelly
Interclub stock judging
Over 27 years
1. Kerry – Emer Kennelly, Daniel Curtin, Kieran Savage.
2. Breffni Oriel – Trevor Williamson, Andrew Gilliand, Karl Colton.
3. Carlow Kilkenny – Padraic Murphy, Eamon Coleman, Aileen Murphy.
Highest Individual: Karl Colton (Breffni Oriel).
18 – 16 years
1. Kerry – Jack Goulding, Padraic Broderick, Katie Kenneally.
2. North Eastern – Jack Mennis, Mathew Flanagan, Thea Flanagan.
3. Carlow Kilkenny – Simon Lanigan, Doirean Mulhall, Fabian Jacob.
Highest Individual: Michael Healy (Galway) and Jack Goulding (Kerry).
12 – 18 years
1. Cork – Sarah Shannon, Gabby Nagle, Donncha Lynch.
2. Galway – Sarah Grady, Aoibhinn Screene, Stephen Laffey.
3. Kerry – Muiris Harty, Ronan O’Mahony, Oisin Cronin.
Highest Individual: Sarah Grady (Galway).
National herds competition
Over-80 herd
1. Brochan and Joseph Cocoman, Kilwarden Herd, Co Kildare.
2. Aidan and Sally Frawley, Ballytigue Herd, Co Limerick.
3. John Barrett Jnr, Laurelmore Herd, Co Cork.
Under-80 herd
1. Dermot Jackson, Borkilbeg Herd, Co Wicklow.
2. Damian Wynne, Rowantree Club, Co Cavan.
3. Robert and Sylvia Helen, Eedy Herd, Co Cork.
Spring herd
1. Brian Kenneally, Bessborough Herd, Co Kilkenny.
2. Henry and Liam O’Keeffe, Radney Herd, Co Cork.
3. James Egan, Tobermartin Herd, Co Kerry.
Judge’s choice award
1. Dermot Jackson, Borkilbeg Herd, Co Wicklow.
2. Aidan & Sally Frawley, Ballytigue Herd, Co Limerick.
3. Micheal Spillane, Mountian Herd, Co Tipperary.
Judge’s recognition award
Michael and Elizabeth McNamara, Barna Herd, Co Cork.
EBI awards
EBI herd award – Brendan Meade, Stamullen Herd, Co Meath.
EBI animal award – Ballygown PKX 1160, Seamus Knox, Ballygown Herd, Co Kilkenny.
EBI animal award classified VG/EX – Coolnahane GJM Ater VG85, Elizabeth Lane, Coolnahane Herd, Co Cork.
First place in the over-27 category of the interclub stock judging - Daniel Curtin and Emer Kennelly, (Kieran Savage missing from photo) of the Kerry club, with IHFA president Patrick Gaynor (left) and Alymer Power of sponsors Roches Feeds. \ Maria Kelly
Concluding the day, the herd hosted one of the largest celebratory sales ever for an open day comprising of 54 lots.
The sale peaked at €3,300, with six animals selling for prices in excess of €3,000.
Hitting the top price of €3,300 was Radney Alex Odetta, a January 2017-born first-calver which calved in March. A granddaughter of The Queen, she has a projected milk yield of over 8,000kg at 4.03% fat and 3.55% protein. Sired by Cogent Peak Alex, she carries an EBI of €177.
Radney Art Ostrich was next in line selling for €3,200. This January 2018-born heifer sold in-calf to Goldenfield Raphael, with an expected calving date of next February. Herself a daughter of Coolnasoon Art, the €190-EBI heifer is out of a dam whose protein hit 3.79% over a 9,000kg lactation.
Also selling for €3,200 was Radney Ronaldo Deborah. This stylish February 2018-born heifer carried one of the highest EBIs in the catalogue at €216. Sired by Oldcastletown Ronaldo, she is out of the ninth-lactation cow Radney Lsr Deborah, who hit solids of 4.36% fat and 4.08% protein.
Three further lots in the sale went under auctioneer Denis Barrett’s hammer at €3,100. First at the money was the choice of lot 5 or lot 6. Both these animals entered the sales ring together and both were direct daughters of the herd’s Queen cow. After back and forth bidding, the successful bidder took his choice as lot 6, the January 2018-born in-calf heifer Radney Sew Odetta. This mostly black heifer is sired by Searoad Aws Pamela 1 and sold in-calf to sexed semen from Fly-Higher Mod Cade. A daughter of the Queen Odetta, this makes this young heifer a maternal sister to successful AI bull Radney Levi 5.
The next lot to make the money was again related to one of the many successful AI bulls the herd has sold. Radney Yry Deborah 1700, a full sister to Eurogene’s Radney Mill, also hit the market at €3,100.
Last at that money was Radney Hagley Bella. Another January 2018-born heifer, this one sold in-calf to sexed semen from Westcoast Perseus. Sired by De-Su Hagley, her granddam is after five lactations of over 4% protein.
Perhaps the strongest prices of the day were for the maternal sisters Radney Grey Odetta 1726 and Radney Perseus Odetta 1744.
These six-month-old calves entered the ring together, with the top bidder allowed choice, with the second then offered for sale. Both heifers hit the market at €2,900.
Born as the result of ET, both are daughters of Radney Mwl Odetta, who is a full sister to AI bull Radney Levi 5 and the dam of Dovea AI’s Radney Steve.
Sire behind lot 32 is Peak Mr Grey and she carried an EBI of €185. Then lot 40 was a daughter of Westcoast Perseus, with an EBI of €125.
The family also offered up a March 2019-born heifer calf in aid of Marymount Hospice palliative care. The young calf, Radney Lwr Odetta 1813, had an EBI of €173 and was from the same family line as many of the top-priced lots in the sale. She sold for €1,000.
Commenting on the sale auctioneer Denis Barrett said: “We’re very happy with how the sale went off. We had buyers from all over, which helped see the clearance rate hit 94%. Spectators were impressed by the cattle in the field throughout the day and the sale shows that. Particularly impressive is despite 20 of the 48 female lots being under six months of age, average remained high at €2,000.
“I’d like to congratulate the O’Keeffe family on a great day and thank them for the opportunity to run the sale.”
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