Pedigree In Profile

Louise Young of Bawnogue Herd, Co. Laois

Photo by D Carey

Pedigree in Profile

IHFA Club Field Evenings are unique occasions, hugely popular being a central event since the formation of all clubs. There are many elements on offer - the social gathering, educational forum, stockmanship, benchmarking and so on. Crucially, these events could not take place without the hosts. Here we talk to a number of Field Evening hosts from the past summer.

Bawnogue Herd, Louise Young & Family, Bawnogue, Rathdowney, Co. Laois from the Laois Offaly Club

150 cow winter and spring calving herd averaging 8,000kgs milk delivering 596kgs milk solids per cow to Glanbia co-op.

Louise Young farms near Rathdowney in south county Laois. It is home to the Bawnogue herd of 150 pedigree registered Holstein Friesian cows with all heifer calves reared as replacement stock.

The herd was graded up to pedigree in 2016 and last year took up classification for the first time. It is a 5-star dairy herd, attaining this accolade on paper when reading through the co-op performance report for last year;

• 596kgs milk solids delivered per cow (top 98% of suppliers)

• 4.20% fat, 3.60% protein

• S.C.C. 74 - Healthy cows and top quality milk production (top 98% of suppliers)

• Top marks are also attained for litres delivered/cow/day.

I applied to join IHFA two years ago and graded up the herd soon after. I knew there was an added value within the herd made possible through using cow family historical records. Also, milk recording has always been recognised as an important management tool.

My father, Herbert, had a tradition of always using well-bred bulls. I continued with this approach and was also mindful that service and calving records were valuable herd data and should be recorded carefully.

When I review the pedigree registration certs there is an element of pride in seeing the herd’s unique quality being captured and recognised.

Following the grade up, herd classification became a possibility. Beginning last May, it was a very positive and informative experience. Cows that I knew to be of sound type, good longevity and hard working were rewarded as such. There are 5 Excellent (EX), 49 Very Good (VG) and 56 Good Plus (GP) cows on conformation.

I got such a thrill when Bawnogue TPO Bluebell 1423 scored EX92. In her 8th lactation she achieved IHFA Diamond status, recently surpassing 3,000kgs protein production and is on track to complete five consecutive 10,000kg lactations with a lifetime average of 4.43% fat and 3.68% protein. In addition she has bred two VG daughters to date. She also scored EX95 for Legs & Feet! I always admired her hard working, durable nature.”

Bawnogue VGE Emily 1953 EX91 in her 4th lactation recorded 9,758kgs milk, 724kgs milk solids, 3.88% fat, 3.54% protein. Her daughter by Pesky is scored GP84 and is projected to produce 7,372kgs milk in her second lactation at 3.62% protein.

Bawnogue PGW Snowdrop EX90 is projected in her 4th lactation to 9,568kgs milk, 747kgs milk solids, 4.08% fat and 3.72% protein.

Bawnogue GKY Emma VG89 has a lifetime yield of 31,571kgs milk, 2,515kgs milk solids, 4.34% fat, 3.63% protein in four lactations to date.

Bawnogue VGE Stella 1768 VG89 in her 5th lactation produced 9,346kgs milk, 722kgs milk solids, 4.14% fat, 3.58% protein.

Bawnogue APF Lulu VG88 in her 2nd lactation produced 6,511kgs milk, 561kgs milk solids, 4.71% fat, 3.89% protein.

Bawnogue SOP Sophie VG88 has a Lifetime yield of 31,849kgs milk, 2,633kgs milk solids, 4.55% fat, 3.72% protein in four lactations to date.

Success in the local Club Herds Competition was a pleasant surprise and an added bonus. The family have thoroughly enjoyed the club events since becoming involved and quickly scooped stock judging prizes, testament to an innate eye for good stock.

“It was a pleasure to host the field evening. The timing coincided with the summer heat wave and preparations were hampered in some ways. Grass availability in particular was an issue. However, we did our best and the experience on the night was so rewarding with the feedback and comments received all being positive and complimentary. It was a pleasant social occasion. As hosts we were delighted to do our bit for the club.”