Ballyclider herd to function in upcoming IHFA open day

The Ballyclider herd would be the featured herd at this yr’s Irish Holstein Friesian Affiliation (IHFA) open day.

Peter and Mary Ging’s herd is situated simply exterior Portlaoise and can play host to the occasion on Tuesday, July 11.

The outcomes from the nationwide herd competitors shall be introduced on the day, with this sponsored by Greenvale Animal Feeds; the open day is sponsored by Tirlán and FBD.

The Gings

Peter Ging has been a lifelong member of IHFA and was a founding member of the Laois Offaly membership – which has lengthy boasted a major membership – and commonly competes in nationwide competitions.

Peter received the nationwide herds competitors in 1997 and 2000 for the 50-80-cow or medium-sized herd part.

Peter’s contributions to the IHFA resulted in him being elected IHFA president for 2015, which was the fiftieth anniversary yr of the IHFA.

He served as IHFA chairman beforehand and has commonly judged reveals and herd competitions.

Ballyclider herd

The Ballyclider herd was first pedigree-registered in 1980 because the herd progressed from humble beginnings of 16 cows within the Seventies.

The herd now stands at 190 cows and the Gings rear roughly 150 calves on-farm yearly.

Peter depends closely on his household – his spouse Mary and kids – for assist on the farm.

The Ging household featured prominently in Younger Members’ Affiliation (YMA) circles within the early 2000s as life on the farm fostered a terrific ardour for the black and white breed, they usually nonetheless participate in the summertime present circuit every time they’ll.

Ballyclider Darkie 31 EX94 5E received Champion cow on the 2019 Clonaslee and District Present.

She represents the seventh era of VG/EX cows in her line and has 89,467kg of milk and 5,962kg of milk solids lifetime-yield in seven lactations.

The popularity the Ballyclider herd holds for producing high quality dairy animals is broadly recognized. Peter credit this to the robust base of repeat clients that buy surplus calved heifers and breeding bulls yearly.

The herd’s 305-day manufacturing averages had been as follows: 8,841kg of milk with 3.91% fats and three.37% protein, leading to 345kg fats and 298kg protein for a mixed 644kg of milk solids for 2022.

The Ballyclider herd is break up calving with roughly 65% of animals calving within the spring and the remaining 35% within the winter.

Within the present herd, 35 cows are labeled EX and 121 are labeled VG. The herd consists of many cows from the Chris, Una, Darkie and Cocarde households.

Breeding at all times focuses on good classification, ft and legs, in addition to environment friendly milk manufacturing.