Over 3000 dairy farmers and their families attended the recent Open Day of the IHFA on the farm of Thomas and Michael Buckley at the Dublin Pike near Cork city. The good weather this summer and rising milk prices helped to make this one of the best attended Agri events organised this year.

Over 60 exhibitors had stands there and the feed back was very positive indeed. Major sponsors for this event included Dairymaster, Keenan Systems, Lely Robotics, National Dairy Council, Paul & Vincent, Southern Milling, Volac etc.

Admission and parking was free while ice cream, food and drinks were supplied all day FOC courtesy of the Cork club, Down Syndrome Society  and lady volunteers.

The official opening was kindly performed by Pat O’Keeffe, News Editor of the Irish Farmers Journal and Vice President of the Agricultural Science Association. Prior to this Padraig Walsh, President of COPA had taken time off from his busy silage campaign and did the honours at the official launch.

Charles Gallagher, CEO and Mervyn Jones, President of the IHFA welcomed the visitors from near and far. Thomas Buckley spoke on the Ballinahina herd and how their targets for a balanced cow (combining consistent type, fertility, production, and protein) and a good family farm income have been achieved.

The National Herds competition sponsored by Lely Robotics was kindly judged by Mervyn Johnston of the Mullakapin Holstein herd from Lisbellaw in Co. Fermanagh. Donagh Crowley from Lely congratulated the winners and indeed all the competitors on the very high standard of their stock.