‘Super’ cow takes golden Angus award
A‘SUPER’ Angus cow has been awarded the 50th anniversary accolade for the breed after being judged All Ireland Supreme Breed and RDS Show Champion at Strokestown Agricultural Show for the golden jubilee year of the Irish Angus Cattle Society.
The award for Ashtown Katie at the show coincided with the fourth anniversary of the cow’s birth into the herd of Michael and Niamh Barron from Grange, The Rower, Co Kilkenny. There was also a rosette for her bull calf in the calf class on the same day.
The cow, bred out of Ashtown Dorris by the sire, Goulding Jumbo King, also collected the award for All Ireland Senior Female Champion of Show.
Aidan Moloney from Clare, who judged the Angus classes which had a prize fund of €11,000, described it as “a pleasure and an honour” to award the rosettes to “a wonderful display of cattle”.
Commenting on the Supreme Champion, he said: “She is a cow that we would all like to take home.”
He had been immensely impressed by her from the moment she first entered the judging ring in the morning, and added that she was accompanied by “a smashing bull calf ” which had also been a prizewinner.
Competition was very keen throughout the classes, with the exceptional standard of entries reflecting the strength which Angus has achieved as a beef breed in recent years.
This has been supported by the growing international market which has been developed for Angus beef over the past decade in particular.
Judging of the overall awards was watched by hundreds of farmers who surrounded the ring for the final stages of the daylong process.
Exhibitors had to endure difficult ground conditions which cut up badly after being soaked by heavy overnight rain and intermittent heavy showers throughout the day.
The All Ireland Senior Male Champion was exhibited by Anthony Scanlon from Carnaree, Ballymote, Co Sligo.
In the All Ireland Junior Section, the Male of the Show was exhibited by Shane McKiernan, Corlissmore, Ballinagh, Co Cavan and the Junior Female was shown by Michael Dullea, Deelish, Drimoleague, Co Cork.
To celebrate the golden jubilee of the Irish Herd Book, all exhibitors were presented with commemorative medals.
Among the recipients were three generations of the Mulligan family from Currycramp, Dromod, Co Leitrim — a hale and hearty 95yearold, Gerry Mulligan, his son Thomas, and his granddaughter Fiona, who was an awardwinner in the