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Pedigree stars on show at Emerald Expo

Reary Norah 469, a Perseus daughter classified VG 85 as a heifer in milk, she is an example of Kevin’s ideal heifer. She milked incredibly well last year - 8049kg milk at 4.6% fat and 3.68% protein - she continued to build into her second lactation and has gone in calf easily
Reary Norah 469, a Perseus daughter classified VG 85 as a heifer in milk, she is an example of Kevin’s ideal heifer. She milked incredibly well last year - 8049kg milk at 4.6% fat and 3.68% protein - she continued to build into her second lactation and has gone in calf easily

As the grand opening of the 2023 season, the Emerald Expo marks the start of an exciting, busy summer ahead for pedigree dairy breeders. With over 120 animals entered for this year’s show it promises to be a quality display.

Emerald Expo, Ireland’s spring all-breeds dairy cattle show is returning to The Virginia Show Centre in Co. Cavan on Saturday (April 29) and this year, it is being held in conjunction with the European Holstein and Red Holstein Conference (EHRC).

The programme of events includes six championships, classes for Young Members' Association (YMA) handlers, youngstock classes and in-milk classes.

The total prize fund on offer exceeds €28,000. FBD has been long-time sponsors of the show and continues to support the Emerald Expo as it has gone from strength to strength over the years.

Kevin Flynn of the Reary herd is no stranger to the show ring – as both a decorated exhibitor and an esteemed judge.

On a recent visit to his farm in Co. Laois as part of the Irish Holstein Friesian Association (IHFA) Focus Farm series he spoke about the excitement of attending shows such as Emerald Expo.

“It gives us as farmers and breeders a great opportunity to see what families and sires are performing well," he said.

"Similar to the list of top registered pedigree bulls the IHFA published in this year's spring journals its very useful information to see what breeding is doing well and is popular each year.”

The prize-winning Reary herd was established by Kevin’s father Billy in 1978 and a strong emphasis put on good cow families all those years ago has proved the making of the impressive herd seen today.

The Norah family is undoubtedly the biggest success of the Reary herd. Bought in 1970 from the Cabra Herd in Thurles, Kevin and Billy registered 670 females from the Norah family in the intervening years.

Reary Norah 461, the daughter of Reary Norah 233. She had phenomenal production as a heifer in milk with 7661 kg milk at 4.48% fat and 3.72% protein in her first lactation and calved down with her second calf after 362 days calving interval
Reary Norah 461, the daughter of Reary Norah 233. She had phenomenal production as a heifer in milk with 7661 kg milk at 4.48% fat and 3.72% protein in her first lactation and calved down with her second calf after 362 days calving interval

Another 170 females have been registered in the Poppy Family which branched from the Norah’s a number of years ago.

These family lines have performed superbly as the backbone to the Reary herd as excellent heifer producers. Similarly, the Primrose family has continued to thrive in the herd with over 520 females registered from this family over the years.

“We are always aiming for uniformity in our cows, uniformity in the herd means management can also be uniform and all animals should thrive equally well in the set up we run," Kevin said.

"These family lines have been a huge part in achieving that and their strong performance and easy to manage nature has kept them in the herd into six/seven/eight plus lactations.”

The quintessential Reary cow is medium sized, robust with good width through the chest to carry her and ensure high production. A good slope to the rump and nice udder that is built to last is the aim of the breeding programme, and certainly looking around the field on our visit the herd have achieved that.

“We’re lucky to have a compact grazing platform around the milking parlour so animals don’t have to travel very far any day between paddocks and milkings," Kevin said.

"That being said its still crucial that these cows are operating on good feet and legs to carry them comfortably through their productive life on the farm.”

When selecting bulls for breeding Kevin sticks to his guns in searching for uniformity; he will use a selection of bulls, but probably less than are used on most farms.

While this presents a potential risk in case certain bulls underperform, he has been very happy with his results over the last few years and relies on proven bulls out of excellent classified pedigree mothers with production figures to match.

Kevin would use a mix of imported and Irish-bred bulls. The heifers milking in the herd currently are just as likely to be sired by Westcoast Yamaska Westcoast Perseus or VH Praser as Hillside Mo Salah or Castleblagh Ruthless.

“Castleblagh Ruthless was probably the best Irish bull we ever used, he had multiple generations of Excellent cows behind him and his solids and fertility made for fantastic offspring," he said.

"The Praser daughters have grown into great cows for us – they seem to do better in their second lactation than their first would suggest they will be.”

The 2023 Emerald Expo judge is Hefyn Wilson of the Tregibby herd, Wales. Hefyn currently runs a herd of 75 holsteins and 15 pedigree jerseys and is a previous Holstein UK Premier Pedigree Herd Competition winner.

Hefyn’s judging highlights include the All Britain All Breeds Calf Show, Great Yorkshire Show and the Premier Pedigree Herd Competition in the UK.

Hefyn is no stranger to Irish soil as he has also judged our National Holstein Show in Tullamore and our National Herds Competition in previous years.

John Dowling took home the champions ribbon in 2022 with Clonpaddin G Fame ET. After a busy show season Fame is back in calf and is due in September.

Emerald Expo 2022 Overall Senior Champion and: Richard Whelan Emerald Expo Show Director, PJ Kelly IHFA president, Paul Hannan, Judge, Overall Senior Champion, Clonpaddin G Fame Et, Exhibited by John Dowling, Meath, Conor McGovern, FBD sponsor, Patrick Gaynor Virginia Show Committee, Charles Gallagher CE IHFA. Photo: Maria Kelly
Emerald Expo 2022 Overall Senior Champion and: Richard Whelan Emerald Expo Show Director, PJ Kelly IHFA president, Paul Hannan, Judge, Overall Senior Champion, Clonpaddin G Fame Et, Exhibited by John Dowling, Meath, Conor McGovern, FBD sponsor, Patrick Gaynor Virginia Show Committee, Charles Gallagher CE IHFA. Photo: Maria Kelly

This will be her ninth calf and she is having a well deserved break from the show ring currently, but John hopes to get her back out to Royal Ulster Agricultural Society (RUAS) Winter Fair in December - all going well.

John intends to bring two third-calvers to the Emerald Expo this year, one being Baldonnel Sol Ebony who he had great success with at the RUAS Winter Fair in 2022.

Another being Baldonnel Solomon Lustre going back to 2015 National Dairy Show Champion Baldonnel Goldie Larissa EX94 who John owned with Tadgh Bourke.

Championship line-up 2022. L-R: IHFA president - PJ Kelly, Charles Gallagher CE IHFA, Paul Hannan judge, Hon. Mention Bawnmore Pepper Almeric, exhibited by John O’Connor, (handler Paul Murphy), Res. Champion Monamore Diamond Barbie, exhibited by Tom and James Kelly and Alan Dorian (handler Richard Jones), Champion, Clonpaddin G Fame ET, exhibited by John Dowling, (at halter) Conor McGovern, FBD (sponsor) and Richard Whelan, show director. Photo: Maria Kelly
Championship line-up 2022. L-R: IHFA president - PJ Kelly, Charles Gallagher CE IHFA, Paul Hannan judge, Hon. Mention Bawnmore Pepper Almeric, exhibited by John O’Connor, (handler Paul Murphy), Res. Champion Monamore Diamond Barbie, exhibited by Tom and James Kelly and Alan Dorian (handler Richard Jones), Champion, Clonpaddin G Fame ET, exhibited by John Dowling, (at halter) Conor McGovern, FBD (sponsor) and Richard Whelan, show director. Photo: Maria Kelly

Emerald Expo has brought much success for John in his showing career.

Winning Supreme Champion in 2019 with Baldonnel FM Sunshine and again in 2022 with Clonpaddin G Fame after a break during Covid-19, John will be going for the hat-trick this year.

For more information on the Emerald Expo 2023, click here.

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