National Dairy Show remains cream of crop

MILLSTREET stages the National Dairy Show on its return to the spacious Green Glens Complex on this Saturday with an extensive programme underway at 9am.

For more than three decades, the phenomenal success of this event is evident on drawing the cream of the country’s dairy stock, with bumper attendances convening on the multi purpose venue.

Connoisseurs of dairy cows are in for a treat at the 36th hosting, the event firmly recognised as the Miss Ireland of milk production, bringing together all the top Holstein and Jersey cows from all over the country.

Hosted by the Cork Holstein Friesian Breeders Club, the National Dairy Show is a premier event on the European circui,t with trade stand and visitor enquiries from Britain, France, Holland, Germany, Italy and North America seeking to promote innovative agricultural and farm accessories.

Apart from the cattle, the show is a family day out with gardening, floral arrangement exhibitions, local crafts and best-dressed events also on the programme.

While the dairy show incorporates all aspects of dairy farming, showmanship and dairy cow classes (Holstein Friesian and Jersey) form a major part of the event, with a prize fund of €30,000 in 25 classes.

Cattle-handling competitions that allow young handlers from the four corners of Ireland compete are as popular as ever, and the day gives the audience in Millstreet an opportunity to see the cream of Holstein Friesian and Jersey cattle before the Supreme Champion is crowned that evening.

The show welcomes judge Edward Griffiths to Millstreet this year.

Edward is passionate about the breed and is enthusiastically involved with the next generation and has a wealth of judging experience.

He has judged many major shows in the UK and Europe including National Holstein shows in the UK, Ireland, Sweden and Slovenia.

Always generating particular interest annually at the show is the Dairy Innovation Award, where products and equipment new to the Irish market in 2018 are revealed, as hopeful entrants compete in scientific, technology and engineering categories before the overall winner is announced on the afternoon.

This year’s show has been designed to attract an audience throughout the farming community and welcomes attendance from both urban and rural, town and country to a great day out.

On the day, live demonstrations will promote the latest in hoof-care restraining equipment, as well as up to date hoof pairing technology.

Tractor and loader demos will also feature at the show, with up to eight manufacturers participating alongside a wide range of machinery on display.

Farm safety will also feature, particularly in relation to prevention of farm accidents, and Gardaí will be on hand to discuss rural crime prevention.

For the younger visitor, the Millstreet Fire Service have kindly offered to display their shiny, new fire tender, and along with the Small Animal Farm, bouncing castle, and face painting, there will be much to entertain our younger audience.

All this, along with food tastings and light bites from local producers, as well as full restaurant facilities within the complex, ensure there is something for everyone at the show.

The organising committee are delighted that this year’s event will be officially opened by Mr Sean Kelly, an MEP and former GAA President.

An exciting addition this year is the visit of comedians ‘ The Two Johnnies’.

Younger visitors will be enthralled by the new addition of a small animal farm, with both familiar and more exotic species sure to be of interest.