Top Coolmohan pure Friesian herd to go on show at open day

THE five-times leading EBI Coolmohan pure Friesian herd of Pat and Nora Flynn at Kilworth, Co Cork, is to be showcased to visitors being welcomed on to the farm for the IHFA National Pure Friesian Open Day on June 22.

After holding the leading place on the EBI for three years in succession, the latest ICBF index has placed the herd in third place at €234.

In 2015, the herd comprised of 84 cows, averaging 7,231kgs of milk, 4.19pc fat, 3.80pc protein and SCC 87.

This year, herd size has in- creased to 91 cows on a difficult farm in terms of soil quality and farm fragmentation. The milking herd is run over a grazing platform of 91 acres on the home block with some grass being zerograzed in by a contractor from outside blocks. Pat said: “The foundation of my herd is all home bred using AI and stock bulls from top Friesian cow families nationwide. Grove Image bloodlines worked exceptionally well. Lavenham Soldier produced cows that were very consistent. More recently, I have been very pleased with Holwerdo Torello. Nowadays, I believe I need to diversify the sire lines used in breeding the next generation.”

A number of cow families very prominent in the herd includes Coolmohan Rebecca Image 1 EX92 5E, currently in her 10th lactation with many sons in AI and lifetime production of 5,697kgs of milk solids, 4.73pc fat, 4pc protein; Coolmohan Petula Image 1 EX92 5E, who produced over 5,800kgs of milk solids in her lifetime with an average 4.75pc fat and 4.13pc protein in nine lactations; Coolmohan Norton Neway 6 EX90 2E, who has completed 11 lactations thus far and achieved IHFA Diamond award status for surpassing 3,000kgs protein production; and Coolmohan Lily Sunburst EX90, who has recently calved for the eighth time, with lifetime average yield of 3.72pc protein.