This year's Irish Holstein Freisian Association (IHFA) National Open Day is to be hosted by the Doran family of the Dondale herd, Donadea, Co. Kildare on Wednesday, July 10.

Joe, Bernie, Kevin Doran and family are the proud hosts of the IHFA National Open Day 2024. Their Dondale herd of 160 Pedigree Registered Holstein Friesian cows is a top-quality, award-winning herd.  

"The Dondale herd has increased its output per cow by over 140g of milk solids in a six-year period," according to chief executive of the IHFA, Laurence Feeney.

Joe and wife Bernie farm in partnership with their son Kevin, daughters Marie and Roisín who are both teachers are also a big part of the farm and help out at every opportunity.

The Doran family farm in Avondale, Donadea, Naas is located close to Clane, Maynooth and Naas within a short distance of the M7 and M4 motorway network routes.

Joe established the herd in 1964, when he registered the Dondale prefix. The herd was Graded Up to Pedigree status in 1991 from the bedrock of home-bred cow families.

Home bred families include Emblem, Ruth, Elsa, Helen, Judy, Bonny, Emma among others.  In recent years high merit youngstock from select international families have been acquired in order to add further layers to the genetic profile of the herd.

Profitable, efficient and award winning

Top quality milk is produced year-round. Last year, the herd yielded 9652kg of milk 702kg milk solids per cow.

Ranking in the top 2% of Glanbia Suppliers for both kgs milk solids and litres of milk.

The herd calving pattern is 30% winter, 70% spring. In 2023, the Dondale Herd sat in the top 1% of Glanbia suppliers for spring six-week calving rate.

To be able to achieve a five-star six-week spring calving rate at that production level is a phenomenal and unique achievement.

The most recent classification inspection (February) resulted in 91%of animals inspected scoring GP or higher.

Currently, there are 28 cows of 5th lactation and older in the herd as an indicator of positive longevity.

Having previously competed in the junior category of the Kildare Holstein Freisian Breeders Club herds competition, it has been a whirlwind success to progress on to ultimate success, winning 1st place overall.

2023 judge, Jason Helen commended the exceptional dairy strength and consistency throughout the Dondale herd when giving his reasons at the Kildare Club's prizegiving.

Last year the herd placed second in the IHFA National Herds Competition, large herd category, which is further noteworthy given the fact that it was the first time to participate in the prestigious national competition.

Genetic progress

In 2014 the herd was averaging 8,912L at 593kg solids. In a bid to maximise the genetics used on farm, Dondale joined WMS, the WWS mating programme in 2015 and they have not looked back since.

Fast forward to 2020, the herd averaged 10,203L at 739kg solids.

Since then, Kevin and Joe have purchased land and increased in cow numbers (from 115 to 160), the influx in heifer numbers saw production dip slightly, however projections for 2024 estimate a very pleasing 9,844L at 726kg solids.

Kevin commends WMS for taking the work out of sire selection, he no longer has to study each individual mating.

WMS combines genetic trait profiling and linear scoring to optimise each mating decision. A key benefit of the programme for the Dondale herd was its elimination of inbreeding and its consideration of unwanted genetic recessives and Haplotypes.

When selecting genetics for the herd, focus is put on positive Strength, Teat Length, Kgs Milk Solids and both Foot & Leg and Udder Composite.

Kevin praises bulls Roylane Boxer Punch, Siemers Real Seal and Scientific Doppler from WWS for leaving a lasting impact in the herd both conformationally and in the milk tank.

Bulls currently in the AI tank are Logistics, Pazzle, Crown Red, Rager Red, Reeve Red, Cirrus P, Luster P, High Oohm, Praser, Yamaska, Robin Red and Rubicon.

Head monitoring

From bulling heifers to the milking cows, the herd is monitored 24/7 by CowManager.

Utilising heat state information provided by the system; Kevin has been able to increase his use of sexed semen across the herd with much success.

All maidens are served to sexed and the top 60-70% of cows, with the remainder served to beef.

Improving the timing of insemination has increased conception rates across the herd, meaning culling decisions are now much tougher, meaning the Doran’s are now able to be more selective.

Both Joe and Kevin are pleased to no longer include heat detection as part of their day to day, with CowManager taking care of that.

Not only has herd fertility improved since installation, but antibiotic use has reduced across the herd.

CowManager's health module detects illness long before a cow would show any clinical signs.

Kevin praises the system for its early detection, allowing him to intervene with non-antibiotic treatments quickly and more effectively.

Your chance to buy into some of the best of Dondale's genetics, including many from their sought-after homebred families.

38 specially selected youngstock (three to 24-months-old) from the herd will sell on the day. The sale will be conducted by the renowned Taaffe Auctions. All autumn born heifers are included in the consignment.

The Doran family are offering the ‘pick of the pens’ in all age groups, selling from the herd’s top cows and cow families.

Families include Apple & Aiko (D-R-A August), Emblem, Bonny, Roxy, Robin (Karona), Torch, Snowball (Sunnylodge) and Danoise. Youngstock is sired by top AI bulls: Cirrus-P, Logistics, Lunser, Triple-Crown-Red, Robin-Red, Luster-P, Rubicon, Praser, Doppler and Yamaska. 

Lot previews

Lot 15: Donedale Rubicon Emblem, a potential 5th generation (EX) by EDG Rubicon from Donedale Punch Emblem (EX93-2E)- All-Ireland Intermediate Calf 2019;
Lot 13: Superb ‘Apple’ by Hansen-PP (due Feb to sexed Cirrus-P, potential 6th generation 3.60% Protein. Her 3dam is KHW Regiment Apple-Red EX96;
Lot 14: Beautiful Red and white robin MACALA-Red (due February to sexed Reward-Red)- heifer selling placed top 10 National YMA Final 2023.

Catalogues are available online at Taaffe Auctions.

The Irish Holstein Friesian Association National Open Day is a farm family day out, with trade exhibitors, stock judging, award presentations, youngstock sales and much more. All are welcome to attend and entry is free.

Headline sponsors for the event are WWS Ireland and CowManager. FBD, Agriland, Specialist Nutrition, O Donovan Engineering, Volac, and Greenvale Animal Feeds are also proud sponsors.