Now in its 12th year, the Emerald Expo returns to the Virginia Show Centre in Co. Cavan on Saturday, April 27.
This all-dairy breeds cattle show is the very first show of the year in Ireland, with a substantial prize fund on offer.
Renowned UK-based judge, David Booth of Feizor Holsteins will Judge the 2024 Emerald Expo.
The Emerald Expo’s main sponsor is FBD Insurance, with supporting sponsorship from Irish Holstein Friesian Association (IHFA) and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).
Emerald Expo
The Emerald Expo has a prize schedule that includes seven championships. A new introduction to the show this year is an individual championship for red and white Holstein Friesian animals.
The Emerald Expo youngstock confined class is a dedicated class open to breeders from the surrounding IHFA club areas: Breffni Oriel, North Eastern, West Midlands and Donegal.
Once again, all eyes will be on the top calibre stock in contention for the Emerald Expo Senior Champion, and the prize of taking home the Seamus Kelly memorial perpetual trophy.
In 2023, the overall Senior Champion title was won by Jones Crushtime Patricia, exhibited by Jones and Knowlesmere Holsteins.
She also claimed the Intermediate Champion earlier in the day, and the extended Jones family would also claim the Junior Champion title – which was won was Gary’s brother, Philip.
Young members (YMA) handling classes will kickstart the show proceedings on the day.
The three handling classes kickstart the annual YMA Showmanship League competition, with qualifying points on offer toward the final.
Director of the Emerald Expo Show, Richard Whelan said that the continued success of the Emerald Expo, now in its 12th year, is a reflection of the commitment from all stakeholders involved including sponsors and cattle exhibitors.
Whelan said: “On behalf of the organising committee, I especially thank FBD as title sponsor and also thank the IHFA, the [DAFM], and all class sponsors.
“Without this sponsorship support, the show could not take place. In seeking to continue the popularity of what was the RDS [Royal Dublin Society] Spring show, a number of like-minded breeders from the border, midlands and north-eastern region formed an organising committee.
“Emerald Expo continues to build upon this Spring Show foundation.
“It fills the calendar void, and as it is the first show of the year, it is a unique platform for breeders to turn out their stock and put their herds in the shop window.
“It is an opportunity to meet up with fellow breeders and to enjoy a social and educational day out. It is also a commercial opportunity for the agri-industry to showcase new products and services.”
David Booth
David Booth will be the Judge of the 2024 Emerald Expo. He is a fourth-generation farmer and his family farm, Old Hall Farm, is located in the Yorkshire Dales National Park in northern England.
Booth said: “I will look for a balanced cow with a really good udder who moves freely on a quality set of feet and legs.
“I also like to see a cow having that breed character of dairyness, in addition to her overall quality and balance.
“It is an honour to have been asked to judge the Emerald Expo, and I am very much looking forward to it.”
Image: IHFA
The Feizor Pedigree-registered herd consists of a 120 cow milking herd with 170 youngstock followers.
The milking herd has an annual average production of 12,300L twice a day milking with the herd housed all year-round.
The milking cow diet is predominantly an all forage based total mixed ration (TMR), with attention to detail on producing top quality homegrown multi-cut crops of grass silage and maize silage.
The Feizor herd has won many showing successes, including Senior Champion of the Royal Show in 2005, and also exhibited the Agri Scot Super Heifer in recent years.
Booth has judged a number of national shows including the Holstein UK Dairy Day, Royal Welsh Show, All Britain All Breeds Calf Show, Balmoral Show and the Diageo Baileys Champion Cow in 2022.
Sale
An online timed auction taking place over the same weekend is a new addition to the event. This will take place in conjunction with Denis Barrett Auctions.
The Emerald Expo hopes to encourage consignors to enter their animals into the show as a preview for sale.