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There was a positive mood among dairy farmers at Northern Ireland’s premier dairy show at Balmoral Park on Thursday.
Warnings from dairy processors that falling dairy commodity markets will be reflected in milk prices in the coming months were heeded by farmers. However, the overall mood at the Winter Fair was significantly more optimistic than the previous two years.
Milk prices and weather, and occasionally limited fodder and excess slurry, were the main topics on the minds of farmers at the Winter Fair.
There were around 220 trade stands exhibiting on the day and organisers estimated an attendance of over 5,000.
In the show ring, Hank Van Exel tapped forward Hilltara Lauthority Echo 2 as interbreed supreme champion. The five-year-old Holstein cow was exhibited by the McCormick family from Bangor, Co Down.
Politicians were doing the rounds. Earlier in the day, DUP leader Arlene Foster told the Irish Farmers Journal that the recent Brexit agreement on the Irish border issue did not reflect a changing position from the party towards a softer Brexit.
Echo 2 continues run of form at the 2017 Winter Fair
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