Dairy show to encourage discussion

ONE of the features of the silver jubilee National Dairy Show at Green Glens Arena in Millstreet, Co Cork, tomorrow will be the Irish Examiner Forum, where a wide range of topics will be discussed.

Farm leaders Padraig Walshe (IFA) and Jackie Cahill (ICMSA) will go head to head on dairying issues and the Irish Dairy Board chairman Michael Cronin will discuss the future for milk prices and dairy markets.

Dr Tom Ryan, of Teagasc, will speak on milking parlour design. John Broderick, a specialist on the Rural Environment Protection Scheme, will outline the pros and cons of REPS4 and Dr John Murphy, of Teagasc, will share his expert views on feeding the modern dairy Holstein cow.

There will be questions and answers after each of the sessions at which Tim O’Leary will preside.

Irish Holstein Friesian Association president Dessie Dunleavy will officially open the show, organised by the Cork Holstein Friesian Club.

One of the most successful shows of its kind in Europe, the event, which will also have a trade stand display, is the shop window for the country’s best Holstein Friesian and Jersey pedigree cattle.

It will be judged this year by Mike Deaver, from Wisconsin in the US.

The top award will be Irish Examiner National Dairy Show supreme championship.

It will be followed by the sale of 25 world class pedigree heifers.

Silver jubilee awards will be presented to the show founders John O’Sullivan, Bryan O’Connor, Robert Troy, Kitty Horgan, Teresa Carroll, Jocelyn Ferguson, Tim Kiely, Colin Johnson and Noel C Duggan.

There will also be an annual recognition award presentation.