Reflection by Charles Gallagher

Chief Executive 2008-2022.

I was appointed as chief executive of IHFA in 2008. My role as chief executive encompassed the administration of the herdbook, expanding and improving services to attain greater efficiencies and profitability, promoting the breed to a national audience, expanding membership through an “Open” herdbook policy. This was a unique opportunity for me as I had spent the previous thirty years in an advisory & management capacity on cattle breeding in the private AI industry. While in this position I met many breeders throughout the country which was hugely beneficial to me in my new role.

It was a challenging appointment as IHFA was a relatively young organisation, it was incorporated as an independent breed association of Holstein UK & Ireland (HUKI) in 2002. Prior to this IHFA operated as a breeder club under HUKI in the Republic of Ireland. As the herdbook was formerly a club of HUKI it was necessary to update all bye laws and rules under Irish constitutional law. This in itself was a formidable task. Under an EU directive it became incumbent on each member state to establish a National database and ICBF was set up in 2000. This was a force for change and IHFA became shareholders. Showing tremendous goodwill IHFA shared its large repository data of pedigree registered Holstein Friesian Cattle with this new organisation so that it could get off the ground.

There are always teething problems with any change and after an initial period of difficulties with

the system eventually the new technology allowed for less duplication and the single unique identifier for all animals has proven to be successful. This was a period of rapid progress in both database and scientific technology. I endeavoured to make greater use of this opportunity so that breeders could have quick and easy access to their data to improve efficiencies in their herds. I also adopted the new Genomic technology so that pedigree registered males would have a genetic proof. This proof is equivalent to each male having data on 15 progeny which increases the reliability of using a stock bull.

Promoting the breed and making it relevant to a wider commercial audience necessitated keeping it at the cutting edge of new technologies as well as organising events where the best of breed could be viewed and discussed by members and commercial dairy farmers. The IHFA Board supported a proposal to become patrons of the UCD Lyons farm research project where alternative production systems, high output in a grazing environment is evaluated with key benchmarks to achieve efficient targets.

The Board also supported Teagasc research to establish an Irish base for conformation in 2011/12 and laterally Vista Milk so that the life cycle of production from soils to final food product can be evaluated at each step in the process to ensure desirable outcomes. This research identifies the genetic variation within the breed to suit all dairy farming systems. The Irish Pure Friesian has added considerably to that variation capturing key traits of calf quality, fertility, longevity and cull cow value in overall profitability. This has ensured the durability of the Holstein Friesian breed as the dominant breed despite all the challenges. The trajectory of the breeding index (EBI) based on current research is on an up-

Pictured: Outgoing C.E. Charles Gallagher with incoming C.E Laurence Feeney at his retirement function in 2022

ward curve for fertility, longevity and milk solids which augers well for the future.

I was very conscious of raising the profile of the breed through revamping our open days so that they are now part and parcel of the agricultural calendar with large attendances to view various systems of dairy farming by moving these events across the country. The role of the national herds competition was enhanced with a new formula balancing all the attributes of efficient breeding and including a section for pure Friesian. Displaying cows sourced from local breeders at the various venues of the Ploughing Championships, equally demonstrated the quality of cows available across the country.

A very proud occasion for the breed was the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Irish society in 2015 which reflected growth of over 50% in Registrations, Classification &Linear scoring under my stewardship. Keeping the focus of agricultural college students on the Holstein Friesian breed was high on my agenda and I granted three

bursaries to students of Gurteen college where a pedigree registered Holstein Friesian herd was bred and managed.

The Association’s finest asset is young breeders. It was very important in the scheme of events that our young members (YMA) were autonomous in having a sound structure and a system of rules that ensured equality of opportunity for all. To that end I ensured that there was dedicated support staff on hand to guide and mentor them, as well as representation at the IHFA board.

The role of shows was further augmented with the establishment of Emerald Expo which brought a renewed focus to our spring events.

An All- Ireland awards competition was introduced in the IHFA journal with additional commercial articles focusing on practical cow management. The website is constantly updated so that services are available on line and promotion of events and services are directed at a younger audience through greater use of social media. I joined IHFA as patrons of Agri- Aware, who promote agriculture and food production to school going students and Animal health Ireland , who are the overarching body dealing with non- statutory diseases.

Promoting IHFA at European and International events was important to achieve recognition for the Irish herdbook as an independent body. IHFA were successful in hosting the European & Red Holstein Confederation (EHRC) Judges Conference in 2019. I was also successful in bidding for the EHRC Conference which was postponed in 2020 due to Covid. IHFA are now hosting this EHRC conference in the spring of 2023 which will focus an international audience on Irish Cattle breeding.

As you are probably aware I retired as Chief Executive in July.

I wish to thank you the members, all club officers and club members, YMA officers both past and present for your friendship, support and encouragement over my fourteen years in charge.

The Association is in very good stead with loyal staff which will be of tremendous assistance into the future. No doubt there are challenging times ahead in a climate action era, however by breeding efficient longlife cows, the Holstein Friesian will sustain your dairy enterprise into the future.

Wishing you the members a successful future!

Charles Gallagher