New IHFA members Seamus and Patrick Culkeen, Drimneene herd, Dunmore, Co. Galway. Following classification inspection, the herd includes 18 VG/EX cows.
and training, Seamus attended both Mountbellew Agricultural College, Co. Galway, and Ballyhaise College, Co. Cavan - graduating with a Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Agriculture Dairy Herd Management qualification from Teagasc.
Seamus Culkeen, farming with his father, Patrick, near Dunmore in east Galway, is on the cusp of his dairy farming career following the completion of his formal agricultural education and training in January this year. He recently became an IHFA member, establishing the Drimneene herd prefix, setting a foundation in place from which to grow and add value to his interest and enthusiasm for quality pedigree registered Holstein Friesian breeding.
In 2022 he will calve-in 40 pedigree registered cows, all spring calving, as well as carrying all the female youngstock as breeding replacements for the future. Grading Up to Pedigree Following IHFA membership and the registration of the Drimneene prefix, Seamus subsequently availed of the Grade Up service as the next logical step.
Having recently availed of IHFA Classification service Seamus is “absolutely thrilled” with the level of conformation assessment of the day resulting in two cows scoring Excellent (EX) and sixteen scoring Very Good (VG).
Thanks to the foresight of his father, Patrick, the herd had accumulated a solid Holstein Friesian base built up over decades. In 1978, Patrick commenced dairy farming on the home farm with the purchase of six in-calf Friesian heifers from Tom Storan, Doorlass herd, Croom, Co. Limerick. He subsequently expanded the herd from within aided by individual purchases from both the Creva and Corrib herds.
“I never imagined that the classification inspection would be so positive, the interaction with the classifier was hugely educational for both myself and my father. It bolsters you with encouragement to continue progressing and improving the herd.” In pursuing his formal agricultural education 48
