The Mogeely Aberdeen-Angus herd of Albert & Jennifer DeCogan, Killamuckey, Castlemartyr, Co. Cork secured both the overall breed championship and reserve championship in the Aberdeen-Angus ring at Cork Show over the weekend. One of the oldest and most prestigious shows in the region; Cork is also the first of several qualifying shows for the 2018 Munster Junior Bull & Female of the Year. 

Show Judge, Mr. John Henning of the Drumcorn Aberdeen-Angus herd from Moira, Co. Armagh, Northern Ireland selected Cheeklaw Jake Eric R535 as his overall breed champion. In addition to the Aberdeen-Angus championship, this bull went on to be crowned the overall supreme beef inter-breed champion of the show, beating out tremendous competition from all other major beef breeds. This three year old bull is one of several stock bulls at the 60 cow Mogeely Aberdeen-Angus herd of Albert & Jennifer DeCogan and was a regular championship winner on the 2017 show circuit too. 

The Mogeely herd also took the reserve breed championship with the recently purchased senior heifer, Cheeklaw Pru S541. This January 2016 born heifer was purchased at the Cheeklaw dispersal sale last Autumn and this was her first major win on the Irish summer show circuit. She is sired by Cardona Proud Punch L752 and is out of Cheeklaw Pride N449. 

In addition to claiming both top championship honours, the DeCogans also won the Genetic Merit Award, which was presented to the bull calf with the highest maternal replacement index. The prize-winning calf, Mogeely Jerry T544 is sired by Wedderlie Oscalade R250 and is out of Duncanziemere Jody M001 and has a replacement index figure of €136 which gives him a five-star rating across all beef breeds. 

The 2018 Munster Junior Calf Championships also kicked off at Cork Show with Eustace Burke’s Clontead Prime Time T250 and Albert & Jennifer DeCogan’s Mogeely Diana T540 leading the bull and heifer sections respectively. The annual competition is at a very early stage and further qualifying shows will take place at Barryroe, Dungarvan, Cappamore with the final being staged at Dualla Show in August.