Dawn of new era at farm
The Dawnville herd, owned by the Sheehan family at Ballinahina, Whites Cross, near Cork city, was established in 1991, when the herd was graded-up with the Holstein Friesian Society.
Over the years new bloodlines were bought from top herds such as Ballinahina, Mallowroad, Coolehill, Glenkeel and Lisduff.
The herd was first classified in 1995 and steadily increased in quality over the years.
A major milestone was reached in May 2003 when Dawnville Leduc Gabell became the first homebred VG two-year-old.
The Sheehans had also been selling their surplus stock as heifers to many satisfied customers over eight years, and the herd average yield had risen from 1,200 gallons in 1991 to 1,780 gallons in 2003.
Sires such as Gibbon, Luke, Corsaro and Fatal helped to improve the production and type of the herd.
However, last November, a BSE case was diagnosed, and the herd was de-populated before Christmas.
But Thomas and Willie Sheehan wasted no time and faced the challenge of re-stocking, by purchasing 24 young cows and 24 in-calf heifers from the Lismire and Ballinahina herds.
When the Cork Holstein Friesian Breeders Young Members Association field evening takes place on the Sheehan farm at 8pm on Thursday, July 8, visitors will see how well the new herd has settled in, with all animals calved and milking well.
These cows and heifers are by Luke, Convincer, Fatal, Meadowlord, Horton and Leadership. Some young stock has also been purchased from herds such as Galwaybay, Kilbline and Ahavaune.
The cow families purchased include Lulu, Sasha and Carlinda.
Willie says the Sheehan family is honoured to be asked to host the YMA field evening. A former YMA member himself, he is high in his praise of the young members.
