Killarney in world spotlight as it hosts friesian conference

EXPERTS on the management and breeding of profitable and high-yielding cows will address the World Holstein Friesian Conference in Killarney today and tomorrow.

The focus will then switch to the world conference show, which will open at Green Glens in Millstreet tomorrow afternoon and continue on Saturday.

Delegates from nearly 40 countries are expected to attend the conference, which Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Minister Brendan Smith will officially open.

Some 256 of the finest dairy animals from all over Ireland will be exhibited at the world conference show, organised by Cork Holstein Friesian Club. The Irish Examiner is media sponsor of the event.

Callum McKinven from Quebec in Canada will be the judge at the show, which will feature 14 classes for Holstein Friesians on Saturday and four classes for Jersey cattle tomorrow afternoon.

A sale of 32 of the best bred heifers in Ireland will also be conducted tomorrow evening under the apt title of “Ireland’s Cream”.

The Irish Holstein Friesian Association, which will host the world conference, being held in Ireland for the first time, has 3,700 members in 15 club areas.

IHFA chief executive Kevin Dillon said a feature of the world conference, which is held every four years, is that the host country uses it as an opportunity to promote its cattle through a show.

“I think it is will be a fantastic occasion. It is a world conference show, but in reality it is an extension of the national dairy show,” he said.

Mr Dillon said the event will be a wonderful opportunity to promote Ireland and its black and white cattle. It will also be an occasion to show the world that the Irish are passionate about breeding quality cattle and are as good as anybody in doing so, he said.