Open Day 2014
Ann-Maree Manley
The Irish Milking Shorthorn Clubs 1st Open day was held on Aug. 13th. This year it was hosted by Michael and Ann-Maree Manley from the Monasteroris Milking Shorthorn herd. Michael and Ann-Maree have been breeding milking shorthorns since 1996. We purchased our first shorthorn in 1996 from the Carrowhubbock herd. In 2006 we purchased 100% pure shorthorn heifers and a breeding bull from the Rantonal herd in the UK. Our herd consists of about 50 milking cows with 40+ shorthorns in that number. We rear all our own replacements with approximately 35 youngstock. Our breeding goal centres on good feet and legs followed by mammary and then wide and powerful frames.
At Monasteroris we are very passionate about the milking shorthorn breed. They are very functional and fertile cows. The herd displays great variety from heifers in milk to animals in their 9th lactation. There is also a selection of colour in the herd as a percentage of the herd dates back to purebred Holstein cow giving some blue cows. The weather shone extremely favourably on the day with glorious sunshine hitting the backs of the colourful herd. The milking cows were on display in two batches, the main herd and three groups of four cows separated for the stockjudging competition.
There was a class of heifers in milk, junior cows and senior cows. The master-judge for this was Donie McKeown, Enniscrone, Co. Sligo. Everyone was encouraged to take part with a category for both youth and adult. Winning the youth section was Ciara Fox from Galway, 2nd place Niamh Purcell from Tipperary and 3rd place for Hannah Healy from Kildare. In the adult section top marks went to Kenny Smyth, Dublin, 2nd place went to Joe O’Connell, Dublin and in joint 3rd place Breda McCarthy, Waterford and Stephen Carter, Tipperary.
The food provided on the day was expertly served by Raymond Manley with many more family and friends helping out also. Huge thanks to all who helped with preparations and to those who attended. Michael & Ann-Maree were very pleased with the turnout; it was nice to see so many shorthorn enthusiasts get together & look through the herd. Visitors always welcome.

Pictures from the day can be found on the Irish Milking Shorthorn facebook page.