61-year-old herd stars
Father and son Paddy and Martin Crowe farm in partnership at Carrigmore, Doon, in East Limerick milking 100 spring calving pedigree Pure Friesians.
The Dunum Herd was founded in the spring of 1953, when Timothy H Crowe bought three pedigree cows — Ballylane Wallflower, Connello Jess and Example Farm Snowdrop.
The land has a limestone base, contributing to a well-drained farm.
The grazing block consists of 36 hectares, which presently supports 102 spring calving pedigree registered Pure Friesian cows, filling a 609,000 litre quota for Kerry Agribusiness.
Almost all of the milking platform has been reseeded in recent years. All of the latest grazing technologies are utilised, commencing with the spring rotation planner, followed by the weekly grass wedges, and culminating with the autumn rotation planner. This is facilitated by software from Agrinet.
The farm has undergone a major investment programme, with new housing, slurry storage and a new 20-unit Dairymaster milking parlour installed in 2009.
IHFA Type classification is an integral part of herd management. Currently there are 11 cows classified EX (Excellent), and a further 38 classified VG (Very Good).
The herd average EBI is 158. The calving interval in 2013 was 377days, the six-week calving rate was 75%.
All heifer calves are reared as replacements, and bulls are reared for breeding, with about 50 breeding bulls sold annually.
Emphasis on herd health is an area of priority, the bulk milk is screened quarterly for a range of diseases, and cows are tested twice yearly for Johnes. This level of testing and monitoring is an important management aid in maintaining a healthy, trouble-free herd.
Irish Holstein Friesian Association chief executive Charles Gallagher thanked the Crowe family for hosting the open day . He said the Irish Pure Friesian was very much an important element within IHFA, part of the wide genetic diversity of the as the Black and White breed.
He raised the need to reflect later maturity in milk production of the Pure Friesian, in the EBI formula, with mature cows were producing 50kg extra of milk solids above the herd average. He said this characteristic is a major benefit of Pure Friesians, in addition to reflecting the renowned easy care, dual purpose benefits of the breed.
Presentations were made to the Crowe family by IHFA chairman Richard Whelan.
Roches Feeds were the main open day sponsors.At the open day, the master judge for the stockjudging competition was Kevin Flynn, Clonaslee, Co Laois (“Reary” herd).
Lisa Ring, ICBF, gave an outline of the excellent performance of the herd in terms of fertility.
In 2013, milk solids averaged at 529kg per cow, and the average SCC was 112.
1. Tom Julian, Cappawhite, Tipperary, Co Tipperary. 2. Eddie Barrett, Lehenaghmore, Cork. 3. Liam O’Brien, Birr, Co Offaly.
1. Rory Hannon, Fedamore, Co Limerick. 2. Brian Long, Thurles, Tipperary. 3. Bill Hannan, Crecora, Co Limerick.
