Dairy Show search for young experts
The Irish Holstein Friesian Association’s Young Members Association Stockmanship League will reveal breeders who will shape Irish dairy genetics through the era of expansion after 2015. Points gained at three summer shows and at the Millstreet final will decide the winner.
Shows like the Millstreet event are the link between genetic improvement systems theory and practice, said IHFA chief executive Charles Gallagher at last Monday’s event launch in Cork.
“Today, we have more scientific measurements, genetic indices, classification, milk recording and currently genomics. All these developments are a major help in breeding better animals, but at the end of the day, the breeder and dairy farmer need to see the expression of these systems translate to the animal on the ground.”
Mr Gallagher said the show is used more today as an educational tool, and welcomed the development of the farming forum at Millstreet. This year’s Pfizer Animal Health Farming Forum (presented in conjunction with the Irish Examiner) will have Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney as the main speaker. He will address obstacles and opportunities for dairy farmers, and is likely to comment on the European Commission’s official proposals for reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, which will be published on October 12, three days before the Show. Macra president Alan Jagoe will chair the forum, which will feature a farmer’s perspective on dairy industry expansion, from Gerard Buckley, and Dr Charles Chavasse of Pfizer Animal Health on Disease Implications for an Expanding Dairy Herd.
In the show ring, Laurelmore Ruben Sassy bids for an unprecedented Irish Examiner Farming Supreme Dairy Championship three-in-a-row for John and Ricky Barrett & Sons.
*See next week’s Farming section for full details of the show.
