DAIRY farmers enjoyed a pre-recession bash at the World Holstein Friesian Federation Conference and Show in Killarney and Millstreet at the weekend. The conference culminated with the Irish Examiner Supreme Championship on Saturday evening — keenly anticipated as a shop window for Irish dairy genetics, and was attended by 350 delegates.
Championship winners Mervyn and Philip Jones, who farm at Gorey, Co Wexford, were the toast of a huge attendance, including breeders who attended from 40 countries, and from all over Ireland.
At a cattle sale on Friday night breeders from France and Britain were among those who paid €159,000 for 27 Irish animals on the worst day for global stock market panic since 1987.
But the big payoff is likely to follow in the form of overseas orders for Irish embryos — the preferred option for modern dairy cattle breeders trading high priced genetics around the world.
Mervyn Jones confirmed he has strong international enquiries for embryos from his champion, Croagh Fran 26.
When dairy markets are strong, buyers of dairy genetics can achieve 20-fold returns on investment within two years by using embryo techniques.
However, after the weekend high for breeders at Killarney and Millstreet, it looks like a time for dairy industries globally to batten down the hatches.
Twelve months previously at Millstreet, farming leaders celebrated boom times and said they expected strong milk prices for at least three years. However, they now predict reduced spring milk prices, making thousands of suppliers economically unviable.
But at least one farmer is expecting a quick recovery. He paid €10,200 for Desmond Dundee Embrace ET, a one-month-old calf offered at Friday night’s Cream of Ireland Elite Sale by Martin O’Sullivan, Ardagh, Co Limerick. A week earlier the calf’s mother was one of the champions of the World Dairy Expo in Wisconsin where US breeders paid up to $97,000 for top Holstein Friesians.
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