Busy farmer wins red hot show

RED hot competition was guaranteed when nearly 60 breeders of pedigree cattle contested the National Dairy Show at Millstreet last Saturday.

On top of the seven day week commitment to milk production, these farmers work overtime and go the extra mile with attention to detail and painstaking training and grooming of their cattle - all for the red rosettes.

"If you want winning pedigree cattle, look for a busy farmer", is a good guide.

On that criterion alone, last Saturday's top exhibitor, Martin O'Sullivan, stood out. He still insists on milking his 50 cows at least once per day - even though he also runs a fitted furniture business employing 10, and his building company, Glebe Properties, opened a site for 56 houses near this week.

Constant improvement of his pedigree cows, and showing them about ten times per year, keep him committed to dairying, despite his other business commitments and the cost of hired labour to produce his milk quota of about 100,000 gallons of milk per year.

Martin believes that "functional correctness" of the dairy cow is the key not only to winning shows but also in milk production.

So his main breeding objectives come under the heading of type - good feet, legs and udders for longevity.

His herd is spring and autumn calving for winter milk, but creamery milk suppliers depending more heavily on grass feeding should also be breeding for type, he believes.

As for his winner last Saturday of the Irish Examiner Farming Supreme Championship, Desmond Leduc Cairnbrae, she gives 2,500 gallons of milk per year at 3.35% fat and 4% protein, so she is well entitled to get more extra feeding than the average Irish dairy cow, he says.

He has been "dabbling" at showing of Friesians for 10 years, and after numerous class runner-up placings at Millstreet, went all the way last Saturday.

He hopes to expand his milk production and generate extra revenue from his herd by selling young animals with elite dairying genetics.

There is no doubt he will be successful, having achieved much already since 1988, when his father died, and there were only six cows on the 11 acre family farm.

Martin O'Sullivan's father had kept pedigree Jersey cattle, and the world's No 2 dairy breed appeared last Saturday at the National Dairy Show for the first time in its 23 year history.

Six breeders brought their cattle to Millstreet, but only one was successful, with Ben Tyrrell of Kildalkey, Co Meath wining the two heifer classes and one cow class.

His father Richard welcomed the shop window for the breed, as an opportunity to promote its low milk production costs and high milk revenue. Cows in their herd produce up to 6,000 litres of milk at 6.3% fat and 4% protein, which averages 40c per litre at the creamery.

Full results of 23rd National Dairy Show

Jersey Heifer, born on or after January 1, 2005 (Sponsored by O'Connor Group): 1. Ben Tyrrell, Kildalkey, Co Meath - Woodtown Jannah 49. 2. Michael Molyneaux, Lixnaw, Co Kerry - Dysert Clover. 3. J M & N Collins, Newcastlewest, Co Limerick - Turlough Little Dote.

Heifer born on or after January 1, exhibited by person under 15 (Sponsored by Eurogene AI Services): 1. Trevor Lockhart, Letterkenny, Co Donegal - Ballyelly Astro Eve. 2. Roy Cromie, Lifford, Co Donegal - Dalevalley Champion Grace. 3. Martin O'Sullivan, Newcastlewest, Co Limerick - Desmond Integrity Anna.

Heifer born July 1 to December 31, 2004 (sponsored by Bank Of Ireland): 1. Roy Cromie - Dalevalley Astronomical A Lulu.

2. Roy Cromie - Dalevalley Talent Royalty ET. 3. Jim & Una Sinnott, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford - Ballyboy Stormatic Carmen 2.

Heifer born January 1 to June 30, 2004 (Sponsored by Kerry Agri Group): 1. Paul Flanagan, Drogheda, Co Louth - Madison. 2. Richard Whelan, Clonard, Co Meath - Lumville CH Chrissie ET. 3. Donal Neville, Croagh, Co Limerick - Emerald Integ Karry.

Heifer born between January 1 to December 31, 2003 (Sponsored by De Laval): 1. John Barrett & Sons, Togher, Cork - Laurelmore Champion Sallie. 2. Brochan Cocoman, Kill, Co Kildare - Kilwarden Stormatic Shower. 3. T & J Kirby, Duagh, Co Kerry - Smearlaview SYG Vixan.

Junior Championship (Sponsored by Irish Dairy Board): Champion: Roy Cromie - Dalevalley Astronomical A Lulu. Reserve: Roy Cromie - Dalevalley Talent Royalty. Honourable Mention: Paul Flanagan - Madison

Cow shown not in milk having calved not more than twice: (Sponsored by Westfalia Farm Ireland): 1. John Barrett & Sons - Laurelmore Aaron Ann. 2. Sean Kelly, Cahir, Co Tipperary - Coolrue Dante Josey 5. 3. Richard Helen, Clonakilty, Co Cork - Kilgarriffe June 97.

Cow shown not in milk having calved three times or more: (Sponsored by Agri Lloyd): 1. Jim & Una Sinnott - Ballyboy Juror Carmen ET. 2. Peter Kingston, Nohoval, Co Cork - Cradenhill Luk Christina. 3. T & J Kirby - Smearlaview Wade Vixan ET.

Confined heifer in milk (Sponsored by Macroom Mills): 1. Pat Shanahan, Croagh, Co Limerick - Grousehall Gibson Hiske 4. 2. Thomas Byrne, Gorey, Co Wexford - Lask Gibson Bee 3. 3. Ted & Joe Boyce, Bruree, Co Limerick - Viewhouse Storm Celicia.

2 year old heifer in milk born on or after January 1, 2003 (Sponsored by Osmonds): 1. John Hurley, Arklow, Co Wicklow - Cradenhill Linjet Fame. 2. John Barrett & Sons - Laurelmore Boss Jalice. 3. T & J Kirby - Smearlaview S Gibson Vixan ET.

3 year old heifer/cow in milk born June 1 to Dec 31, 2002 (Sponsored by Cork Co-Op Marts): 1. John Hurley - Clonpaddin SLG Jill. 2. Brochan Cocoman - Kilwarden Gibson Shine ET. 3. John Barrett & Sons - Laurelmore Storm Sky.

Junior In-Milk Championship (Sponsored by Devenish Nutrition): Champion: John Hurley - Cradenhill Linjet Fame. Reserve: John Hurley - Clonpaddin SYG Jill. Honourable Mention: John Barrett & Sons - Laurelmore Boss Jalice.

Jersey Heifer in Milk (Sponsored by Norbrook Laboratories): 1. Ben Tyrrell - Woodtown Savoy 83. 2. J M & N Collins - Turlough Mel Miss Millie. 3. J. M & N Collins - Turlough Mel Mrs Trouble.

Confined cow in Milk (Sponsored by E Pearson & Co Ltd): 1. John & Eddie O'Flynn, Ballinascarthy, Co Cork - Ryfarm Aaron Begonia. 2. Tom McGee, Dunleer, Co Louth - Wiesenfeld Progress Julia. 3. David Healy, Termonfeckin, Co Louth - Dalevalley Storm Astro Lulu.

Confined Championship (Sponsored by Nutri Farm Optivet): Champion: John & Eddie O'Flynn - Ryefarm Aaron Begonia. Reserve: Pat Shanahan - Grousehall Gibson Hiske 4.

Jersey Cow in Milk (Sponsored by Allied Irish Bank): 1. Ben Tyrrell - Woodtown Savoy 81. 2. Robert Shannon, Ballinascarthy, Co Cork - Danish G Kirsty. 3. J M & N Collins - Turlough Mel Tiny Tots.

Senior 3 year old cow in milk born between Jan 1 to May 31, 2002 (Sponsored by Henry Good Ltd): 1. John Barrett & Sons - Laurelmore Leadof Galacke. 2. Martin O'Sullivan - Peamount Duc Dainty ET. 3. Bordermist Syndicate, Glaslough, Co Monaghan - Glaslough Spirit Pat.

4 year old cow born Jan 1 to Dec 31, 2001 (Sponsored by Southern Milling): 1. Martin O'Sullivan - Desmond Leduc Cairnbrae. 2. Jim & Una Sinnott - Ballyboy L Carmen ET. 3. Cyril Dowling, Baldonnel, Dublin - Baldonnel B Charles Rosebud.

5 year old cow in milk born Jan 1 to Dec 31, 2000 (Sponsored by Alltech Nutrition): 1. John Barrett & Sons - Laurelmore Star Sallie 2. T R Kelly, Drogheda, Co Louth - Evergrange Rubens Lulu. 3. John Barrett & Sons - Laurelmore Winstar Ann.

Mature cow born before December 31, 1999 (Sponsored by Dairygold Co-Op): 1. Peter Kingston - Quintana Melissa Grand. 2. Michael McGrath, Cloyne, Co Cork - Ballintotas Wade Rowena. 3. Brochan Cocoman - Kilwarden Storm Vixan.

Production Class (Sponsored by Devenish Nutrition): 1. Michael McGrath - Ballintotas Wade Rowena. 2. Jim & Una Sinnott - Ballyboy L Carmen ET. 3. Timothy O'Callaghan, Bandon, Co Cork - Glenkeel Star Rose.

Group of 3 females owned by exhibitor (Sponsored by FBD Insurance): 1. John Barrett & Sons - Laurelmore. 2. Martin O'Sullivan - Desmond. 3. John & Garry Hurley - Clonpaddin.

Irish Bred dam daughter or two maternal sisters (Sponsored by Richard Keenan & Co Ltd): 1. Tim & John Kirby - Smearlaview. 2. Jim & Una Sinnott - Ballyboy. 3. Brochan Cocoman - Kilwarden

Irish Examiner Supreme Championship (Sponsored by Irish Examiner Farming): Champion: Martin O'Sullivan - Desmond Leduc Cairnbrae (sire: Lystel Leduc ET, dam: Robinview Cairnbrae 11). Reserve: John Barrett & Sons - Laurelmore Star Sallie 2 (sire: Comestar Lee ET, dam: Laurelmore Prelude Sallie). Honourable Mention: Peter Kingston - Quintana Melissa Grand (sire: A Mark CJ Gilbrook Grand, dam: Pont Counselor Paternal).

Exhibitor Championship (Sponsored by Colin Johnson & Co): Champion: Martin O'Sullivan - Desmond Leduc Cairnbrae. Reserve: John Barrett & Sons - Laurelmore Star Sallie 2.

Best Udder Award (Sponsored by Norbrook Laboratories): Martin O'Sullivan - Desmond Leduc Cairnbrae

Highest EBI Award (Sponsored by Irish Farmers Journal): Tim & John Kirby - Smearlaview Wade Vixan ET.

Total Performance Award (Sponsored by Irish Dairy Board): Michael McGrath - Ballintotas Wade Rowena.

Premier Exhibitor Award (Sponsored by Norbrook Laboratories): John Barrett & Sons.

Premier Breeder Award (Sponsored by Duhallow Properties): John Barrett & Sons.