‘A fantastic opportunity’
It is the first time Ireland will host the event.
The IHFA is a member of the World Holstein Federation, the world body that oversees the breed and has an international code of ethics, so the same standards apply and are observed worldwide.
One of the events it holds to help promote the breed is a world conference every four years. With 40 member countries, this may not return to Ireland for 160 years.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for Ireland to sell itself and promote its black and white cattle,” said Mr Dillon.
“We tried to bring this conference to Ireland about 20 years ago, when Michael Buckley was president of the IHFA. He fought very hard for it, but there are always three or four countries lobbying for it, and we were beaten at that time.
“It was an ambition of mine to bring the world conference to Ireland before I hand over to my successor, Charlie Gallagher, in a few months’ time.
“We are delighted to be hosting the event in Killarney. Leading scientists from around the world will address the delegates on various topics relating to the management and breeding of better and more profitable high yielding cows.”
Mr Dillon urged Holstein Friesian breeders to try and attend the two-day conference, as it will be informative and interesting.
He recalled attending the conference when it was held in Wisconsin. As looked around a vast arena with 40 beautiful cattle in every class, he asked himself how Ireland was going to compete with it as a host. But an Englishman he met told him not to even try, but to “do it the way ye do it in Ireland”, and it would go down a treat.
“I think we will create that atmosphere in Killarney, and I think it will be a success,” he said, explaining that in addition to the conference sessions, tours, entertainment and other programmes have also been arranged.
Mr Dillion said between 600 to 1,000 people are expected to attend the gala dinner in Killarney, where singer Finbarr Wright will be the guest performer. People are attending from as far away as Australia, New Zealand and Japan — from wherever cows are milked.
“Every country that hosts the event uses it as an opportunity to promote their cattle by running a world conference show,” said Mr Dillon.
“The cow that will be crowned world champion will be remembered forever more in their breed, and any animal that will be placed in Millstreet [for the World Conference Dairy Show on October 10 and 11] will also enjoy huge promotion, and it will be on their CV forever.”
He said the show section of the event will begin at Noel C Duggan’s indoor arena at Green Glens, Millstreet on Friday, when the Jersey classes will be judged.
This will be followed by a world conference sale of 32 of Ireland’s best bred heifers, carrying unique genetics from world class pedigrees. Many are likely to be exported.
“People have been planning their breeding for years so that they would have animals for this world conference sale. I think it will be one of the highlights of the season in Ireland. The sale is called Ireland’s Cream, and that’s what the animals will be — the cream of our Holstein Friesians.”
Mr Dillon said the main world conference cattle show will begin on Saturday at 9.30am, with Theresa O’Sullivan singing the national anthem. Up to 4,000 people are expected to attend this show.
There will be a parade of the winners from the previous evening, and at 10am the judging of the Holstein Friesian cattle will begin, and it will continue to 4pm when the champion will be chosen.
Mr Dillon said the world conference is a chance for Ireland to promote its black and white cattle and to show the passion that the Irish have for breeding animals.
“I am convinced that our cattle are as good those in any other country,” he said.
