The North Eastern Holstein Friesian Club recently held a launch of its annual herds competition on the farm of Paul and Marguerite Flanagan and family, in Termonfeckin, Co. Louth.

The club is a knowledge-sharing and social outlet for Holstein Friesian breeders in Louth, Meath and North County Dublin.  

An integral part of the club’s annual events is the herds competition.

It combines herd performance in terms of herd quality assessed by a guest judge who visits each individual farm, along with production standards from official milk recording performance.

Awards and prizes are presented to the winners across different categories.

Prize winning herds then go forward to compete in the Irish Holstein Friesian Association (IHFA) national herds competition.

Many North Eastern Club members have attained success at national level over the years. The first North Eastern Club herds competition first took place in 1978 and it has continued every year since bar 2001 (due to foot-and-mouth disease) and the Covid-affected years (2020 and 2021).

Golden jubilee

2026 is a significant golden jubilee milestone for the club, marking 50 years since it was established.

The first meeting of the North Eastern Friesian Breeders Club was held on May 17, 1976 in the Conyngham Arms Hotel in Slane, Co. Meath.

The attendance of fifty people present all signed up to become members.

The first club committee meeting took place one week later on May 24, where Noel Hayes was elected chairman and Bill Doran elected as secretary.

The success of the club has been in the involvement of families throughout its fifty years. The annual IHFA National Open Day has been hosted by North Eastern club members on five occasions reflecting the calibre and renown of member herds.    

Cookstown Dairy Services, Ardee, and McAuley’s Animal Feeds, Balrath, Navan are joint sponsors this year.

Representatives from both companies were in attendance at the launch, joined by club committee members and officers.

Speaking at the launch, Paul Flanagan, club chairman, and secretary Fr. Sean Dooley outlined a busy schedule of planned club events throughout the year commemorating 50 years of success for the North Eastern club.

Two field evenings comprising of stockjudging hosted by club members will take place in June and the club young members association (YMA) calf show in conjunction with the Flavours of Fingal show takes place on Sunday, July 5. Plans are in place for additional events and initiatives.        

Judging of herds in the 50^th anniversary herds competition commences on Friday June 5.

The club is open to new members who would like to join and new entrants to the club herds competition are always welcome.