Northern breeders miss out on show

PRECAUTIONS against disease have ruled Northern Irish dairy breeders out of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take part in the World Holstein Friesian Federation Show which starts tomorrow at 3pm in Millstreet, Co Cork, and continues on Saturday at 9.30am.

The breeders were hugely disappointed when cattle segregation and quarantine rules demanded by the Department of Agriculture proved unsurmountable, despite the efforts of the Irish Holstein Friesian Association and their Cork breeders club, who organise the Millstreet event, in conjunction with the World Holstein Friesian Federation, which starts this morning in Killarney.

However, the show is set to be a huge success, with a huge entry of 320 catalogued. Ireland has so far avoided the bluetongue disease threat which is primarily blamed for the strict animal health precautions. It erupted again this summer, with France suffering more than 15,000 cases, and detection of about 30 infected animals imported to Britain from the continent.