Dairy’s shop window
One of the most successful shows of its kind in Europe, it is the shop window for the country’s best Holstein Friesian and Jersey pedigree breeders.
The show judges, who come each year from the leading international dairying countries, say the cows at Millstreet could hold their own in any show.
The Show was expanded last year to accommodate the Irish Examiner Farming Forum.
In changing times for dairy farmers, the Forum offers the opportunity to hear the observations and predictions of dairy industry leaders and experts, and for farmers to put their questions to these speakers.
While not admiring the cows or hearing the expert views in the Forum, visitors to the show can get up to date with breeding, nutrition and management technology on the many trade stands.
The day winds up at 5pm with the highlight for those hoping to one day bring their own Irish Examiner National Dairy Show champion through the Millstreet ring. For them, buying some of the top class genetics on offer at the Sale of the Stars could be an effective short cut to success.
The approximate timetable for Saturday’s busy schedule is as follows (listen on Saturday for Show MC Colin Johnson announcing the events and any schedule changes ):
* 9.30am: Show commences with two handler classes, for under 14s and 15-18 year olds.
* 10.30am: Heifer classes, followed by Junior Championship at
* 11.30am: Junior cow classes followed by Junior In Milk Championship
* 11.45am: Irish Examiner Dairying Forum starts in Coach Room: Dr Tom Ryan from Teagasc’s presentation on milking parlour design
* 12.20pm: Irish Examiner Dairying Forum, agricultural consultant John Broderick will outline the pros and cons of REPS 4.
* 1pm: Official opening of the Show by Irish Holstein Friesian Association President Dessie Dunleavy, and 25th anniversary silver awards to Show founders John O'Sullivan, Bryan O'Connor, Robert Troy, Kitty Horgan, Teresa Carroll, Jocelyn Ferguson, Tim Kiely, Colin Johnson, Noel C Duggan.
* 1.30pm: Irish Examiner Dairying Forum, ICMSA president Jackie Cahill on “The Road to Dairying in a Quota Free Environment”
* 1.40pm: Confined Championship
* 1.50pm: IFA President Padraig Walshe on “The Road to Dairying in a Quota Free Environment”
* 2pm: National Recognition Award
* 2.20pm: Four Jersey classes and Championship
* 3pm: Irish Examiner Dairying Forum, Irish Dairy Board chairman Michael Cronin on “Milk Markets, Milk Price, What Future?”
* 3.15pm: Senior cow classes
* 3.20pm: Irish Examiner Dairying Forum, Dr John Murphy from Teagasc Moorepark on Feeding the Modern Dairy Holstein Cow
* 4pm: Irish Examiner Supreme and Reserve Championship, announcement of Exhibitor Bred Champion and Reserve, Honourable Mention of the Show, Total Performance Cow, Top EBI Cow, Best Udder Cow, Premier Breeder, Exhibitor Breeder Awards
* 4.15pm: Group classes
* 5pm: The Stars of 2007 Sale (Taaffe Auctions)
