Peter set to fly the Holstein flag for Ireland
The Nohoval farmer will fly the Irish flag on his own in northern Italy this weekend other intended Irish exhibitors have backed out for various reasons, not least the expense of flying from Shannon to Paris and trucking for 18 hours to Verona, and a three-day return journey.
Sponsors such as feed millers Henry Good Ltd of Kinsale and the Irish Holstein Friesian Association are helping with the expenses, and Peter reckons his own costs and two weeks away from home will be worth it in order to represent Ireland and also for the personal challenge of boosting the profile of his Cradenhill herd, with this top quality cow which he has owned outright since last summer.
He points out that successes like the Irish team's great performance at the 2004 Agribex have paid off for breeders with, for example, seven of the 25 pedigree heifers offered for sale at last October's 2005 Millstreet National Dairy Show going overseas. A few hours earlier, Quintana Melissa Grand had secured the Honourable Mention award in the Irish Examiner Supreme Championship. At Verona, she will have to outshine the best Holsteins from Italy, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Spain, and England.
