Fine weather and rising milk prices ensure IHFA open day is a huge success

MORE than 3,000 dairy farmers and their families attended the Irish Holstein Friesian Association (IHFA) open day on the farm of Thomas and Michael Buckley at Ballinahina, Dublin Pike, near Cork city.

Organisers said fine weather and rising milk prices boosted the attendance, and the event was “very positive” for more than 60 trade standholders.

The IHFA National Herds competition, sponsored by Lely Robotics and judged by Mervyn Johnston of the Mullakapin herd at Lisbellaw in Co Fermanagh, resulted in wins for Kerry Co-op supplier Paul Hannan’s Lisnalty herd in the over-70 cow section; Lakeland Dairies supplier Damian Wynne’s Rowantree herd in the under-70 section; and Arrabawn supplier Eamon McLoughney in the spring herd section.