The 2015 Irish Holstein Friesian Association, National Open Day 2015, will be held at Friarstown, Crecora, Co. Limerick, on Wednesday 8th July at the Lisnalty Herd owned by the Hannan family.
Host farmers are Paul (Tel: 087. 917 6011) and Eileen Hannan along with Brother John and his wife Audrey.
The open day was launched at a very well attended function on the Hannan farm on June 9th last. The large attendance was welcomed by IHFA President, Peter Ging and after visiting the herd and modern farm buildings they enjoyed some tasty light refreshments courtesy of the Hannan family.
The main sponsor of the Open day is Kerry Agribusiness. Key sponsors for this event are Roche’s Feeds, Limerick, FBD group, AIB Bank, ESB Networks, Volac Ireland, DeLaval and Munster AI.
Greenvale animal feeds are the main sponsor of the IHFA National Herds competition. The results are announced and awards presented at the IHFA National Open day.
Organisations and trade exhibitors represented on the day included AIB Bank, Crecora Mills, Dairymaster, DeLaval, Dovea Genetics, FBD Insurance, Greenvale Feeds, Kerry Agribusiness, Munster AI, Roche’s Feeds, Teagasc, Volac etc along with officers from the farm organisations.
There are three generations of the family associated with farming the land. Paul and John’s parents Jimmy and Marie grew up on a dairy farm across the river Shannon at Ardnacrusha.
Jimmy purchased 22 acres in Friarstown when he got married in 1965 and since then the farm has grown to 700 acres (150 acres are rented).
Paul runs the dairy enterprise and John the beef enterprise and a successful baled silage contracting business. They have a herd of 60 sucklers (Charolais x Limousin) and 150 cattle are finished as beef. All the Holstein bull calves are finished as beef at 18 months of age.
Last year they averaged €1150 per head when sold to Dawn Meats in Charleville and ABP in Rathkeale. This augers well for the beef industry as more dairy breeding females calves become available with the abolition of milk quotas.
Today the herd comprises of 110 cows with replacements supplying liquid milk to Kerry Co-op for sale by Dawn Dairies. In the calendar year of 2014 they supplied 1.2 million litres quota.
Calving is split 60/40 between the autumn and spring. The herd is on a TMR diet which includes top quality baled silage, straw, fodder beet (grown locally on contract) forage maize (48 acres grown on the home farm) etc
The Lisnalty herd is affiliated to the Limerick and Clare IHFA club and Paul has represented the club at National level on numerous occasions.
The quality of the stock produced in the herd has been recognised over the years: The many awards include winning his section outright in 2009, 2010 and 2011. He was also the runner up in 2012, 2013 and last year.
Speaking at the launch, Charles Gallagher, the IHFA Chief Executive outlined the successful breeding policy on this farm.
This a high output* herd therefore cows with dairy strength, excellent legs and feet along with sound udders are a key consideration to capture longevity.
Paul uses the linear scoring and Classification service of IHFA to get an independent view of the herd and to identify the strengths and weaknesses.
The importance of cow families and their ability to transmit their traits to their offspring is the driving force behind cow selection. It is a complete package of corrective matings using all the available breeding tools of Genomics, Proven Ai Sires and Conformation scoring.
For further information on the IHFA Open Day please contact Charles Gallagher, Chief Executive. Telephone: +353 (0) 23 88 33443 (office) or Mobile: +353 (0)87 2523211
Email: [email protected] for further information on the Lisnalty herd and Hannan family farm please contact Paul Hannan Tel: +353 (0)61 352976 (Home) or at+353 (0) 87 917 6011 Email: [email protected] .
Bill Hannan, Laois man Peter Ging, IHFA President, Donegal man Charles Gallagher, Chief Executive of the Irish Holstein Friesian Association (IHFA) with Paul Hannan, host farmer and Ger Coughlan from Kerry Agribusiness major sponsor of the IHFA National Open Day near Crecora, Co. Limerick on Wednesday 8th of July
Charles Gallagher, Chief Executive of IHFA; Clonakilty, Co. Cork Mike Frawley, Emly, Co. Tipperary from Greenvale Feeds, Thurles (sponsors); with Noel Kennedy, Monard, Co. Tipperary along with Paul Hannon of Lisnalty Herd at the launch of the IHFA National Open Day which takes place at the Hannan family farm near Crecora, Co. Limerick on Wednesday 8th of July
Peter Ging, President of IHFA, Richard Roche, Roche’s Feeds, Roche’s Feeds, Limerick (sponsor); Donegal man Charles Gallagher, Chief Executive of IHFA with Brian Roche; Paul Hannon of the Lisnalty Herd and Paddy McCarthy, Nutritionist, Roche’s Feeds at the launch of the IHFA National Open Day which takes place at the Hannan Family Farm near Crecora, Co. Limerick on Wednesday 8th of July.