It’s hard to keep up with the Joneses
Wexford herd retains overall champion title at IHFA awards after exceptional year, reports
THE IHFA Overall Champion Cow of the Year Award has been retained by a Co Wexford herd for the second consecutive year, with a different cow.
The exceptional herd achievement has been accomplished by Philip and Linda Jones, Gorey with Hallow Attic Christina, the reigning Emerald Expo Supreme Champion, Exhibitor Bred Champion and Best Udder cow.
The five-year-old is also the holder of grand champion, best udder and best exhibitor breed champion at the National Dairy Show at Tullamore and was judged Ballmoral Show, Senior Heifer in milk in 2016.
It was a proud moment for 10-year-old Will Jones when he was presented with the award for the herd by Kathleen Watson, president IHFA, at the association’s annual All Ireland Award Ceremony at the Killeshin Hotel, Portlaoise on Friday night.
The champion cow has yielded 28,499 kgs milk at 4.6pc butterfat and 3.25pc protein over 748 days in her first two lactations. The herd received the Champion Cow award in 2017 for their Hallow Advent Twizzle, Emerald Expo and Bailey’s All Ireland Champion cow.
The awards were announced by Charles Gallagher, CEO, IHFA and presented by Ms Watson and Ciaran Roche, risk manager FBD Insurance, who was guest speaker and stressed the high accident risk occupation which full-time dairy farming is.
He reminded those attending that of the 47 workplace fatal accidents in 2017, 24 occurred on farms.
Breeders from 10 counties shared the class awards and the stockjudging winners were Kane Boal, Tuam, Co Galway (Under 18 years), Jack Walsh, Scartaglen, Co Kerry (19-26 years), and Michael Laffan, Kilfinny, Adare, Co Limerick (Senior).