
in Calf Heifer Sells for 12000gns at Greenlea Open Day Sale
Padraic Greenan and his family, who are milking 100 cows in Co. Monaghan, were the winners of the 2024 National Herds Competition (Over 80 Cows Section) on their first attempt.
They are also proud owners of Greenlea MG Rhapsody EX96, who won the Diageo Baileys Champion Cow in 2024.
Their exceptional Greenlea Holsteins' milk yield sits at 10,091kg of milk/cow with 4.15% fat, and 3.29% protein, accumulating to 738kg of milk solids/cow. The conformation average of the herd is 86.2.
Topping the trade on the day was 12,000gns paid for lot 9, Greenlea Lambda Rhapsody 2064, which was purchased by John Coakley, Dunboyne, Co. Meath.
This heifer sold in-calf to Kings-Ransom Dropbox and is due in February 2026.
Sired by Farnear Delta-Lambda, her 14thgeneration (EX) dam, Greenlea MG Rhapsody (EX96-4E) was the winner of the prestigious Baileys All-Ireland Champion Cow award at the 2024 Virginia Show.
The second highest price on the day was 6,900gns paid for lot 12, Greenlea Lambda Apple 1980, purchased by a Co. Monaghan breeder.
Lot 12 - Greenlea Lambda Apple. Image: Mathias Penn
Sired by Farnear Delta-Lambda, this heifer that sold on the day is due to calve in December to Melarry Fuel and is bred from the renowned 'Apple' cow family with 12 generations of VG/EX dams backing her up.
Two further lots sold at 6,800gns with lot 20 being another member of the herd's famous Rhapsody cow family. This heifer, Greenlea Holysmoke Rhapsody is due to calve in December to DG NH Arrow.
This heifer was also backed by 16 generations of VG/EX cows and was purchased by a Co. Louth breeder.
Also selling at 6,800gns was lot 24, Greenlea Haniko Katrysha, a January-2025-born heifer who is sired by Siemers Lambda Haniko and backed by nine generations of VG/EX dams.
Lot 24 - Greenlea Haniko Katrysha. Source: Mathias Penn
This heifer's great grand dam is Lovhill Goldwyn Katrysha (EX96-USA), who was champion at World Dairy Expo & All-American 2015. This lot was purchased by a Co. Roscommon breeder.
In total, seven lots sold for over 6,000gns, with buyers from all parts of Ireland buying, stretching from Co. Antrim to Co. Kerry.
Nine autumn-calving in-calf heifers came through the ring and averaged a price of 4,922gns, while 12 spring-calving in-calf heifers averaged a price of 4,258gns.
Seven autumn-born heifer calves averaged 4,085gns and 20 spring-born heifer calves averaged 3,870gns.
Overall 38 lots averaged 4,195gns with a 100% clearance achieved on the day. Michael Taaffe was on the hammer on the day and the sale was conducted by Taaffe Auctions Ltd.
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Agriland
4 days ago
- Agriland
in Calf Heifer Sells for 12000gns at Greenlea Open Day Sale
The Greenlea open day sale, held in conjunction with the Irish Holstein Friesian Association (IHFA) Open Day on Thursday July 10 2025 in front of a large crowd, proved to be a major success. Padraic Greenan and his family, who are milking 100 cows in Co. Monaghan, were the winners of the 2024 National Herds Competition (Over 80 Cows Section) on their first attempt. They are also proud owners of Greenlea MG Rhapsody EX96, who won the Diageo Baileys Champion Cow in 2024. Their exceptional Greenlea Holsteins' milk yield sits at 10,091kg of milk/cow with 4.15% fat, and 3.29% protein, accumulating to 738kg of milk solids/cow. The conformation average of the herd is 86.2. Topping the trade on the day was 12,000gns paid for lot 9, Greenlea Lambda Rhapsody 2064, which was purchased by John Coakley, Dunboyne, Co. Meath. This heifer sold in-calf to Kings-Ransom Dropbox and is due in February 2026. Sired by Farnear Delta-Lambda, her 14thgeneration (EX) dam, Greenlea MG Rhapsody (EX96-4E) was the winner of the prestigious Baileys All-Ireland Champion Cow award at the 2024 Virginia Show. The second highest price on the day was 6,900gns paid for lot 12, Greenlea Lambda Apple 1980, purchased by a Co. Monaghan breeder. Lot 12 - Greenlea Lambda Apple. Image: Mathias Penn Sired by Farnear Delta-Lambda, this heifer that sold on the day is due to calve in December to Melarry Fuel and is bred from the renowned 'Apple' cow family with 12 generations of VG/EX dams backing her up. Two further lots sold at 6,800gns with lot 20 being another member of the herd's famous Rhapsody cow family. This heifer, Greenlea Holysmoke Rhapsody is due to calve in December to DG NH Arrow. This heifer was also backed by 16 generations of VG/EX cows and was purchased by a Co. Louth breeder. Also selling at 6,800gns was lot 24, Greenlea Haniko Katrysha, a January-2025-born heifer who is sired by Siemers Lambda Haniko and backed by nine generations of VG/EX dams. Lot 24 - Greenlea Haniko Katrysha. Source: Mathias Penn This heifer's great grand dam is Lovhill Goldwyn Katrysha (EX96-USA), who was champion at World Dairy Expo & All-American 2015. This lot was purchased by a Co. Roscommon breeder. In total, seven lots sold for over 6,000gns, with buyers from all parts of Ireland buying, stretching from Co. Antrim to Co. Kerry. Nine autumn-calving in-calf heifers came through the ring and averaged a price of 4,922gns, while 12 spring-calving in-calf heifers averaged a price of 4,258gns. Seven autumn-born heifer calves averaged 4,085gns and 20 spring-born heifer calves averaged 3,870gns. Overall 38 lots averaged 4,195gns with a 100% clearance achieved on the day. Michael Taaffe was on the hammer on the day and the sale was conducted by Taaffe Auctions Ltd.


Agriland
19-06-2025
- Agriland
Six Irish dairy farms setting the standard in 2025
From across the country, six standout dairy farmers are proving that dedication, innovation, and strong cow families still lie at the heart of modern Irish dairying. In an era where many challenges are facing the Irish dairy industry, these exemplary herds are showing that success is not one-size-fits-all. They come from different backgrounds and run very different systems, but they all share a focus on what matters – healthy fertile cows that perform year after year, strong genetics, and a system that works for their individual dairy farm and family. With their stories evolving from generations of hard work, a deep-rooted passion for cows, and an ability to adapt to the times, these farmers are quietly shaping the future of Irish dairying. Jim and Brenda Murray – Derrinsallow Herd, Co. Tipperary On the Tipperary-Offaly border near Birr, Jim and Brenda Murray, with help from their two daughters when home from Cork, manage the Derrinsallow Herd — a compact, efficient and high-performing system. On just 66ac of grazing platform, they milk 72 pedigree Holstein cows through a 12-unit herringbone parlour. The farm has been in the Murray family since the 1950s. Since taking over, second-generation farmer Jim graded the herd up to pedigree status in 2005. With a sharp focus on EBI, fertility, and milk solids, the herd averages 7,155kg of milk with fat at 4.42% and protein at 3.66%. A somatic cell count (SCC) of just 57 reflects strong herd health and management. Brenda and Jim Murray. Source IHFA The dairy herd is 100% homebred, featuring elite cow families like the Alices and Agneses — the cornerstones of generations of high-performing daughters. Jim has bred five AI bulls, including the influential Derrinsallow 812 Arthur (DSU), who has over 3,000 pedigree-registered daughters in Ireland. Operating a spring-calving system, calving was completed by April 22 this year. AI is used for most of the breeding season, with dairy stock bulls cleaning up the final three weeks. Surplus heifers are sold either privately or through Birr Mart. Each year, Jim selects a team of eight bulls from Progressive Genetics and Dovea, targeting improvements in solids, herd health and EBI. More recently, he has focused on raising the Milk Sub Index, aiming for €100+ bulls. With a low-input system — just 1t of concentrates per cow annually — the Murrays show that clever genetics and disciplined grassland management deliver results. Their 362-day calving interval is a reflection of excellent fertility and operational consistency. This consistency was marked in 2023 and again in 2024 when Jim was recognised as an IHFA Master Breeder. Henry and Sam Dudley – Dekeana Herd, Co. Tipperary Farming along the river that gives their herd its name, Henry and Sam Dudley are a dedicated father-and-son team in rural north Co. Tipperary. With 82 pure Friesian cows on 49 acres, the Dekeana Herd is the result of careful breeding and an unshakable commitment to cow quality. Henry's influence is rooted in generations of farming, but it is Sam — currently finishing his Ag Science degree at UCC — who represents the next chapter. Henry and Sam Dudley. Source: IHFA Their herd includes well-known Friesian lines like the Blossoms (from Micheal Spillane, Mountain Herd), the Lils (from Bill O'Connell's, Rossline herd), and the Savorys (from Bill Trousdell, Ardhu herd), selected for longevity, fertility, and solid production. Their vision is to ensure a herd where every cow is eligible for classification, and poor performers (feet, fertility, milking speed) are culled without hesitation. The herd is currently producing 7,021kg of milk with 528kgs of solids at 4.01% fat and 3.54% protein. Breeding is built around sexed semen for first services, followed by targeted beef or conventional artificial insemination (AI) and an Angus stock bull. This year's bull team features names like Bradash Patriot Red, Laharn Bruno, and Bradash Trailblazer, all sexed semen. The herd currently follows a 20% autumn and 80% spring calving pattern, with plans to move fully to spring for better labour efficiency. They milk in a 12-unit Delaval parlour with individual feeders. Cows are fed 1.1t of concentrate annually via the parlour, plus approximately 60t of a beet-maize blend in spring. With strong cow families behind them and a shared eye on the future, Henry and Sam Dudley are quietly shaping a Friesian herd built to last. PJ Brennan – Monataggart Herd, Co. Waterford In Co. Waterford, PJ Brennan farms with his wife Tracey, their children Éile and Seán, with support from his mother Helen and neighbour Seamus — who also helped PJ's late father John. The family milk 76 spring-calving cows on a farm he took over in 2011. PJ was inspired by the IHFA stand at the National Ploughing Championships to grade up his herd in 2022, after years of reliable milk recording and data. The herd Economic Breeding Index (EBI) currently stands at €263, averaging 7,013kgs of milk with remarkable fat and protein percentages (4.63% and 3.80%) Calving season starts late January, with over 85% calved in the first six weeks. PJ Brennan with his Monataggart herd. Source: IHFA Milk solids are a top priority — PJ selects AI sires based on a minimum of 33kg combined fat and protein, with close attention to percentages and positive 'Milk €' figures. His approach blends sexed, conventional, and Angus/Belgian Blue AI, rearing beef calves off-site. Infrastructure on the farm has transformed under PJ's leadership. Since 2016, he has added cubicles, a slatted tank, PV panels, and increased feed space — all designed to support a growing, efficient herd. Milking happens in a 12-unit Fullwood parlour with automatic cluster removers (ACRs), and cows are fed 1.2t of ration annually, along with spring beet. Keeping fifteen replacement heifers annually and ensuring strong cow families like the prolific Jameys carries the herd forward. The Montaggart herd epitomises efficiency and productivity. Michael McNamara – Barna Herd, Co. Cork On a 120ac platform in Newtownshandrum, Co. Cork, Michael McNamara, with daughters Rachel and Emma, manages the Barna Herd — a high-output, spring-calving operation supplying Kerry Agribusiness. From a modest 36 cows in 2004, the herd has grown to over 260 calvings per year, built on deep-rooted cow families and disciplined breeding. The Jills, Angels, Ingrids, and Cleanas are more than names — they're the foundation families on which the herd is built. Breeding strategies focus on fertility, milk solids and production and influential sires like Cogent Twist, Co-op Bosside Massey, Peak Mr Grey, and Westcoast Perseus have helped to shape the herd. As a result, the Barna herd is averaging 7,835kg of milk with 583kg of combined milk solids (l-r) Rachel, Michael, and Emma McNamara. Source IHFA Michael runs a tight spring-calving system with a calving interval of only 359 days, relying heavily on sexed semen (100% for heifers, 80% for cows) for the first three weeks. Conventional AI follows, with beef bulls cleaning up. A feed-to-yield system ensures top cows get what they need in the parlour. Michael's attention to detail is evident. In 2019, a cow he had purchased years earlier as a calf from the UK — Woodmarsh Cancun Lyme 2 — won multiple show championships, was Reserve Champion at the National Dairy Show, and named Best Cow in the Limerick-Clare Herds Competition. It was a crowning moment for a herd built on passion and hard work In 2024, Barna was crowned 1st place in the Elite Spring section of the National Herds Competition, well-deserved recognition for the years of dedication to breeding previous. TJ and Ryan Meegan – Munta Herd, Co. Louth In Co. Louth, TJ and Ryan Meegan are running a spring-calving herd that puts it focus on fertility, simplicity and profitability. With 314 cows on 178 acres, and around 100 calves reared annually, the Munta Herd balances size with attention to detail. After moving to 100% spring calving in 2022 to reduce labour demands and improve fertility, the Meegans now enjoy a streamlined system with a 90% AI'ed within three weeks and an 8% empty rate. All dairy AI is conventional — no sexed semen — and they have begun retaining six high-EBI bulls each year for maiden heifers. Genomic testing has shaped breeding for the past three years with the herd EBI now at €241 and the cows averaging 7,317kgs of milk at 4.10% fat and 3.58% protein. TJ and Ryan Meegan. Source: IHFA The herd calves from early February through April, milking through a 20-unit swing-over DeLaval parlour and monitored via SenseHub collars. Their diet feeder runs from September to April, reflecting the careful balance of inputs and output. TJ, who established the Munta prefix, having taken over the farm that was originally purchased in the 1950s, has put a lot of emphasis on genetics, breeding top AI bulls. One such bull, Munta Mystic, now has 1,300+ daughters in over 400 herds — a testament to the genetic strength behind the system. The Meegan family's operation is now a template for modern efficiency, with Ryan having joined the operation full time. The Meegans have managed to scale up without losing sight of the fundamentals: fertility, simplicity, and smart investment in genetics. Maurice Harty – Ballylongane Herd, Co. Kerry Overlooking Ballyheigue Strand in coastal Kerry, Maurice Harty and his family run the Ballylongane Herd, a dairy herd of high-yielding Holsteins established in 1968 by Maurice's father Martin. Milking 100 cows across a split-calving system, with 170–180 calvings per year, Maurice is supported by his wife Geraldine and their three children, Muiris, Gearoid, and Aisling. The cows are milked through a 16-unit Dairymaster parlour and diet-fed most of the year — using beet, barley, silage, and straw and a protein balancer. With 3.5t of concentrate fed per cow, Maurice prioritises output per animal — and it shows in the staggering 10,578kg milk and 811kg solids averages. Calving is split to allow a brief winter break and better use of labour and facilities. The farm's ground also grows cereals and beet, with 80% retained for on-farm feed use. Maurice and Geraldine Harty and their 3 children, Muiris, Gearoid and Aisling. Source: IHFA Maurice's eye for a cow is clear — strong, fertile, high-yielding animals with plenty of protein. Placing emphasis on positive daughter pregnancy rate (DPR) and linear traits, the herd features standout cow families like the Marys, Marthas, Lulus, Princesses, Peitjes, and Ravens. Sexed semen is used in two thirds of inseminations, complemented by Angus and Hereford, the herd has benefitted from heavy use of the SSI PR Renegade sire line, including sons Parfect and Trooper, and grandson Cirrus P. With scenic coastal views and a hardworking herd, Ballylongane shows what is possible when long-standing tradition is matched by modern ambition. Across every farm, one thing is clear — Irish dairying is in good hands. These farmers are not just chasing numbers; they're building systems that work for their land, their animals, and their families. With a strong focus on breeding and genetics, they balance tradition with progress. No matter the size of the herd or the type of system, the goal is the same – to do things well and keep improving. Focus Farm Walk There will be two Focus Farm Walk events, both taking place in August, with dates and locations to be confirmed. Please keep your eyes pealed for updates across the IHFA social media platforms.


Agriland
13-06-2025
- Agriland
IHFA national open day set for Co. Monaghan farm
An award winning Co. Monaghan family are set to host the 2025 Irish Holstein Friesian Association (IHFA) National Open Day on Thursday 10th July. The Greenan family's pedigree registered Greenlea Herd is situated at their family run farm in Crosshugh, Co. Monaghan. IHFA chief executive, Laurence Feeney said; 'The Greenan family embody much of what is great about IHFA, a commitment to breeding better cows, a love of dairy farming and a willingness to help their local club. 'They are to be admired for passing on their enthusiasm to their own children and many other young people in the area. 'I encourage everyone, especially non-members to visit this superb farm and enjoy a fantastic event.' Greenlea herd Greenlea MG Rhapsody EX 96 of the Greenlea Holsteins herd won the 2024 Diageo Baileys Irish Champion dairy cow at the 81st Virgina show in Co. Cavan last August. The cow was the oldest in the ring at the time, born in January 2015, but that did not stop her bringing home the €3,000 and Virginia Milk Products cup . The IHFA held its 50th annual Premier Bull Show and Sale back in March at the Kilmallock Mart in Co. Limerick, where Greenlea Cassy from the Greenlea herd was the pre-sale Champion bull, selling for €5,500. IHFA open day The headline sponsor of the national IHFA open day this year is Lakeland Dairies and the main event will be the announcement and presentation of the IHFA national herds competition awards sponsored by Greenvale Animal Feeds. However, there will also be Inter-Club and Macra National Stock Judging Competitions and an all-day trade stand exhibition showcasing a wide range of products and services. Furthermore the Greenan family will host a sale of select youngstock from the pedigree Greenlea herd, conducted by Taaffe Auctions and sponsored by Dooley Agriculture, DairyMaster and EasyFix. The IHFA is a member owned organisation directed by an IHFA board which is directly elected from its 3,700 members in 15 club areas. The association is licensed by the Department Of Agriculture, Food and Marine (DAFM) to issue ancestry and pedigree registration certificates. The IHFA National Open Day is a family day out and all are welcome to attend the farm for free.