What is IHFA?

The Irish Holstein Friesian Association (IHFA) is a member owned organisation directed by an IHFA board which is directly elected from its 3,700 members in 15 club areas. The association is licensed by the Department Of Agriculture to issue ancestry and pedigree registration certificates. The IHFA is responsible for the validity and upkeep of the herdbook of Holstein Friesian cattle and for giving direction to the development and promotion of the breed in Ireland through its many events and services. The association offers a grade-up service, whereby commercial dairy cows can be graded to full pedigree in three simple steps.

Our Story
IHFA Staff
Governance
Mission Statement
Get In Touch

Our Story

The IHFA was established in 1965. Back then it was known as the Irish Friesian Breeders Association (IFBA). But that is not where the story begins.Back in 1909, the British Friesian Cattle Society (BFCS) was formed. As Ireland was governed by Britain at the time, it was under this organisation that the first Irish herd was registered. In 1918, the Ardtarmon herd of Carl Jones Henry in Co. Sligo was registered.

The Friesian breed soon surpassed the native Shorthorn in popularity. Recognising the increased production offered by the Friesian to those farming limited acreage, the number of Friesian herds increased. This also prompted the demand for a club that recognised the Irish identity of its members. So, in 1940 the Irish Friesian Cattle Club (IFCC), which included the island as a whole, was formed as part of the BFCS club structure.

Roll on to 1965, where the IFCC evolved to the Irish Friesian Breeders Association (IFBA). This national association is now recognised by all Friesian breeders in the Republic of Ireland. With the gradual increase in demand for Holstein genetics throughout the 70s and 80s, Ireland saw lines from across Europe, Canada and the USA being introduced to the national population. In 1994, this shift in emphasis led to the rebranding of the association to its current name – Irish Holstein Friesian Association, or IHFA. At that time the IHFA was still linked to its parent organisation – Holstein UK & I (HUK). With the establishment of the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) database in 2002 the IHFA transferred all its data including decades of ancestry and performance details to the ICBF database and commenced registering all pedigree Holstein Friesians through the Irish database and operating an independent Irish herdbook.

To facilitate the new structure IHFA acquired new offices which were officially opened by Mr. Joe Walsh, Minister for Agriculture, DAFM, in the summer of 2002.

Read this for a full and complete history of the association.

Managers

Laurence Feeney

Chief Executive

Moira Callanan

Office & Accounts Manager

Office Staff

Georgia Greenan

Events & Promotions

Patrick Kelly

Data Analyst

Ann Deasy

Registrar

Teresa O'Regan

Registrar

Ann Crawford

Registrar

Rachel White

Breed Promotion & Marketing

Field Staff

Shane McHugh

Classifier

John Kirby

Grade Up Officer/Classifier

Paul Boal

Classifier

Donal Carey

Grade-Up Officer

Governance

Please see our Governance Here

Mission Statement

Please find our mission statement Here

Get In Touch

Irish Holstein Friesian Association,
Ballymacowen, Clonakility
Co. Cork, P85 PR84

Telephone:
+353 (0) 23 88 33443

 

Hours of Business: 9am to 5.30 pm
Monday to Friday

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