The North Leinster Hereford Branch of the Irish Hereford Breed Society is planning to host the ‘Irish Hereford Virtual Calf Show 2020’.

The event will be held in conjunction with Irish Hereford Prime.

Ongoing Covid-19 restrictions created difficult circumstances for the society in its bid to host its annual physical ‘Irish Hereford Calf Show’. Therefore, the decision was made to host a virtual show instead.

Commenting on the decision to host the virtual event, a spokesperson from the north Leinster branch said: “It was not appropriate to hold a physical event in 2020, especially with entrants and spectators being at risk of contracting the virus or the event being cancelled due to regional lockdowns.

“This has led to the birth of the ‘Virtual Hereford Calf Show’. The classes are open to the general public and we encourage all to enter.”

New ‘Dairy-Beef Index’ classes

This year’s online show will include two new classes, alongside the usual pedigree classes.

These classes include a Dairy-Beef Index class for pedigree genotyped-bulls born on or between July 1, 2019, and December 31, 2019.

There is also a new class for Hereford-sired females born on or between July 1, 2019, and June 30, 2020. This class is for “Hereford / Hereford-cross replacement heifers of the future”.

A spokesperson for the north Leinster branch explained the criteria for the new classes, saying:

Judging will be based on 60% on the animal’s appearance and 40% will be focused on the Dairy-Beef Index of the animal, based on the October 2020 evaluations.

Image source: Tricia Kennedy / Irish Hereford Breed Society

Entry requirements

As this will be a virtual show, photos and video content will prove vital when it comes to how the animals will be judged.

Some general guidelines for exhibitors to follow include:
  • You must submit three pictures: a side view; a rear view; and a front view (via this link);
  • All animals must be un-haltered and grooming is prohibited in photographs;
  • No professional photography is permitted;
  • Competitors are asked to refrain from posting their pictures on social media until the judging process is complete and the results have been released.

There is no entry fee.

The full list of classes, consisting of pedigree and commercial competitions, for the show is available, alongside all entry requirements, on the society’s website.

The closing date for entries is Monday, October 26.