The Irish Holstein Friesian Association (IHFA) is delighted to be part of this year's FBD National Dairy Show in Millstreet, and looks forward to meeting members, breeders and farmers from across the country.

As the organisation behind the herdbook of Holstein Friesian cattle in Ireland, IHFA works to guide the development and promotion of the breed through our services and events, supporting members in building stronger, more productive herds.

Farmers looking to grade up commercial cows to full pedigree status can do so through IHFA's grade-up service, a straightforward three-step process that opens the door to the benefits of pedigree breeding for herds of any size.

This year has also seen the launch of genomic Profitable Lifetime Index (PLI) evaluations.

This is now available to IHFA members through the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) and with the assistance of ICBF, giving members access to a valuable new tool for making informed breeding decisions.

HerdStrategy

We are also offering our HerdStrategy programme, an innovative breeding tool that provides members with a comprehensive analysis of herd performance and a customised plan to reach herd specific breeding goals.

Each cow in the herd is scored across more than 20 traits, including Economic Breeding Index (EBI), production, conformation and fertility, identifying the most balanced and profitable animals and guiding bull selection for future breeding decisions.

HerdStrategy is available at €100 per stage, with full support provided through workshops, expert consultations and ongoing research.

Throughout the year, IHFA also runs a full programme of events for members, including Focus Farm open days, giving farmers the chance to see progressive herds and systems in action.

In addition, the Young Members Association brings together the next generation of breeders and handlers through competitions, training and events such as the YMA Showmanship League.

Call in to the IHFA stand at this year's show to find out more about membership, grading up, HerdStrategy, and how our services can support your herd.

We are proud to support this year's FBD National Dairy Show, and look forward to seeing you in Millstreet.

This is a sponsored post as part of our 2026 FBD National Dairy Show Supplement