Tullamore Show 2024 Report

Bumper crowds & tremendous Holstein Friesian classes at the Tullamore Show & FBD National Livestock Show 2024

Report by Donal Carey

Huge crowds descended upon the Butterfield Estate, Blue Ball for the Tullamore Show & FBD National Livestock Show 2024 on Sunday August 11^th last. Breeders turned out a tremendous display of quality Holstein Friesian breeding on the day as entries across the Confined classes, National classes and YMA handling classes were highly impressive once again.

Such is the popularity and prestige of the Tullamore Show & FBD National Livestock show that breeders from far and near made the journey to the show grounds to exhibit their very best and compete for the show honours on the day.

The format of the schedule of classes was Confined classes alternating with National classes, in age order. Three highly competitive YMA Showmanship League qualifier classes featuring thirty-nine handlers in total as a very positive reflection on a vibrant YMA for the future, was the midsection of the show, in between the youngstock and in-milk classes. Breeders from counties Laois, Offaly and Westmeath were eligible to exhibit in the Confined classes.

Adding an International element to proceedings, the judge was Gerrit van Der Kolk, Bossink Holsteins, Holland. The Bossink herd was won three National titles at the Holland National Dairy show in the past five years.

Rachel McNamara, Barna herd, Newtownshandrum, Co. Cork was the Judge of the YMA Showmanship League classes.

An “awesome” National Livestock Show Senior Championship line-up

Hallow Octain Twizzle exhibited by Philip and Linda Jones, Gorey Co. Wexford was tapped out as Senior Champion. She also won Best Udder, 1^st Junior Cow (cow in-milk, calved twice) and best udder in class. Sired by Stantons High Octane EX, her Dam is Hallow Advent Twizzle 3 ET EX96 5E a Diamond Award status mature cow and a previous winner of the IHFA Champion Cow of the Year award. As a heifer in her first lactation, she recorded 9,691 kgs milk, 722 kgs milk solids, 3.93 % Fat, 3.52 % Protein (305 d). She is bred from five generations of VG/EX Dams with her three nearest Dams all Classified EX (Excellent) on Conformation. She is Classified to VG89 in her second lactation with composite scores of EX Rump, VG89 Mammary, VG88 Feet & Legs. She is projected to yield over 11,000 kgs milk, 840 kgs milk solids in her current lactation.

Bawnmore Pepper Almeric exhibited by John O’ Connor, Kanturk, Co. Cork was crowned Reserve Champion. She won 1^st place Senior Cow in milk and best udder in the FBD National Livestock Show Senior Cow In-Milk class, a class offering a total prize fund of €2,800. Taking home the honour of Reserve Champion is a tremendous feat backing up a most impressive show season over the past twelve months where her national successes include winning Senior Champion Tullamore National Livestock Show 2023. She is classified to the maximum score possible for her parity, EX93 (3^rd calver) with composite scores of EX93 Feet & Legs, EX92 Mammary. Calved in since mid-March, she is projected to yield over 10,000 kgs milk, 714 kgs milk solids which would result in two successive recorded lactations in excess of 10,000 kgs milk & > 700 kgs milk solids. She is sired by Delaberge Pepper VG. Her Dam Clongowes Sid Almeric 2 EX95 4E, bred by Pat Fanning, Clongowes herd was purchased as a yearling heifer by the O’ Connor family at the Clongowes dispersal sale, before going on to win Senior Champion Tullamore National Livestock Show 2016 exhibited by the O’ Connor family.

Hallow Solomon Twizzle 2 ET EX94 3E exhibited by Philip & Linda Jones, Gorey, Co. Wexford was tapped out as Honourable Mention. A Senior cow in her 5^th lactation she was the most Senior cow exhibited on the day and placed 2^nd in the Senior Cow class. In his comments the Judge praised her qualities and he stated his admiration for her functionality, overall balance and her longevity. Sired by Walnutlawn Solomon, she is a maternal sister to the Senior Champion, both are daughters of Hallow Advent Twizzle 3 ET EX96 5E. Classified EX94 3E on Conformation in her fifth lactation, her composite scores include EX96 Rump, EX94 Feet & Legs, EX92 Mammary. Calved since the end of January, to date she has recorded 7,524 kgs milk, 624 kgs milk solids, 4.52 % Fat, 3.78 % Protein in her current lactation (148 days).

The Senior Championship was described as an awesome display of quality Holstein Friesian breeding. Top quality cows and heifers in milk to feature included;

Ellys Darlingo Rhapsody, 1^st National Junior Heifer in milk, exhibited by Liam and Sandra Murphy, Evergreen herd, Fenagh, Co. Carlow
Tubbertoby Mystic Blackrose, best udder Junior Heifer in milk, exhibited by Paul & Margeurite Flanagan, Termonf*ckin, Louth
Limetree Daisy 400, 1^st Confined Heifer in milk, exhibited by Aisling Neville, Tullamore
Lisnalty Balertwine, 2^nd Super Heifer in milk, exhibited by Paul Hannan, Crecora, Limerick
Gageboro Delta Smash, 1^st Confined Junior Cow in milk exhibited by Sean Kelly, Horseleap, Westmeath
Ballyclider Una 238 best udder, Confined Junior Cow in milk exhibited by Peter Ging, Portlaosie, Co. Laois
Lisnalty Inka Ideal, 2^nd National Junior Cow, exhibited by Paul Hannan, Crecora, Limerick
Hallow Lambda Haniko Twizzle, 1^st Super Heifer in milk & best Udder, exhibited by Philip & Linda Jones, Gorey, Co. Wexford.

In his concluding summary, Gerrit said “…..This has been an incredible show and it has been my privilege to be in the ring today as Judge. I have been so impressed with the quality of cows and heifers, beautifully balanced cows, not too big with outstanding udder quality and tremendous feet & legs”.

Tullamore Show & FBD National Livestock Show Junior Championship

Champion Tubbertoby Doc Joyful Paul Flanagan, Termonf*ckin, Co. Louth

Reserve Ellys KD Rhapsody Steve McLoughlin, Ellistown, Kildare

Honorable Mention Ocean Griffs Pledge Kieran Harty, Ballyheigue, Kerry.

Paul & Margeurite Flanagan and family, Tubbertoby herd, took the Junior Champion title home to Termonf*ckin, Co. Louth. Their February 2023 born heifer Tubbertoby Doc Joyful, won 1^st Intermediate heifer calf (calves born on/between January 1^st 2023 – June 30^th 2023). She is sired by Woodcrest King Doc and is bred from seven generations of VG/EX Dams.

Young Members Handling Classes – a very popular and positive component of the Tullamore Show & FBD National Livestock Show

Judge; Rachel McNamara, Barna herd

The Young Members Association Showmanship League classes attracted big numbers of participating handlers and a large crowd of family members and friends gathered ring side to watch and enjoy the action. With thirty-nine handlers in total competing across the three classes it was a very positive endorsem*nt for Young Members and points to a very bright future ahead. Rachel McNamara of the Barna herd was Judge. Rachel has been a very active participant in YMA, competing at the very highest level. She has represented YMA at European level on two occasions, having twice been selected on the National YMA team to compete at the European Young Breeders School held in Belgium.

Rachel has also been selected to represent YMA in the International young breeders competition held at the Italian National Dairy show where she won 1^st place in the stock judging competition.

Her active involvement in her local club and National YMA includes having served as Limerick and Clare club representative on the National YMA committee, National YMA officer and a member of the YMA National Calf show organising committee.

Rachel is employed by the Salesian Agricultural College, Pallaskenry in Co. Limerick where she is a valued member of staff.

Holstein Friesian Results Tullamore Show & FBD National Livestock Show 2024

YMA Showmanship League Handlers aged 12 years & under as of January 1^st 2024

1^st Zoe Greenan Breffni Oriel Club

Tullamore Show 2024 Report - IHFA (2024)