Millstreet national dairy show achieves international status

THE 26th national dairy show at Green Glens in Millstreet is being elevated this year to world status.

The show will form part of the World Holstein Friesian conference which is expected to attract up to 1,000 visitors to Killarney, Co Kerry.

Experts on the management and breeding of profitable and high yielding cows will address the conference on October 9-10. The focus will then switch to the show at Green Glens which will open on October 10 and continue on October 11.

Up to 4,000 people from nearly 40 countries are expected to attend the show in Noel C Duggan’s indoor arena with the Cork Holstein Friesian Club as promoters.

Over 200 of Europe’s finest dairy animals from across Ireland will be shown in 18 classes plus championships. The show is sponsored by the Irish Examiner. Show director Richard Fleming told a media briefing in Blarney yesterday that this year’s judge will be Callum McKinven from Quebec in Canada.

Fourteen of the classes will be for Holstein Friesians and these will be judged on Saturday with the four classes for Jersey classes being judged on Friday with Colin Johnson and Bobby Franks as masters of ceremonies.

A sale of 32 of the best bred heifers in Ireland will also be conducted by Michael Taaffe on Friday.

The Irish Holstein Friesian Association, which will host the world conference, in Ireland for the first time, has 3,700 members in 15 club areas.

IHFA chief executive Kevin Dillon said a feature of the world conference, which is held every four years, is that the host country uses it as an opportunity to promote its cattle through a show.

“I think it is will be a fantastic occasion. It is a world conference show, but in reality it is an extension of the national dairy show,” he said.

Mr Dillon said the event will be a wonderful opportunity to promote Ireland and its black and white cattle.