IHFA FOCUS ON GENETIC DIVERSITY

THE genetic diversity and wide variation of the HolsteinFriesian cow to suit all dairy farming systems is being highlighted at the IHFA stand.

The association is keen to point out that the breed has the genetics to sustain family farm income throughout the year from a combination of delivering high milk solids, high cull cow and calf sales and the sale of breeding stock.

The cows on display have been selected to show how a herd can be graded up to pedigree status, and to facilitate this opportunity, IHFA will have a special Grade-Up Ploughing offer.

Recorded performance and genetic evaluation figures of the display cows will be prominent to demonstrate breed efficiency and contribution to output.

IHFA staff and personnel will be on the stand to meet visitors and help with queries to impart practical advice and knowledge on the breed and find out how to unlock potential from within your dairy herd.

The cows on show will demonstrate the benefit of IHFA services such as pedigree registration and conformation scoring to help add value to dairy herds.

There will be a visual explanation of the IHFA conformation scoring — the linear scoring/conformation service.

The association is also focusing on the dairy farmers of the future through the Young Members Association (YMA), the youth arm of the association, for those up to 26 years of age, a fun and educational forum with a club network throughout the country, which is a great way for young people with a keen interest in dairying to develop skills and make new friendships.

Upcoming events for the society include the National Dairy Show, at Millstreet, Co Cork on Saturday October 20, the Young Members (YMA) Showmanship League final at Millstreet on October 19, and the YMA weekend rally on September 29 & 30 at Virginia, Co Cavan.

Meanwhile, the daily milking of the cows always draws a large crowd of curious onlookers — for some it may be their first time to witness cows being milked.