The best of Ireland's livestock were on display on Saturday for the 2003 Royal Dublin Society's Spring Livestock Show, at Goffs, Kill, Co Kildare.
Over 900 cattle and sheep, which were shown in 100 classes and covering 14 cattle breeds and 50 classes from five sheep breeds, competed for the €40,000 prize fund.
Entries in the sheep classes were down because of the Department of Agriculture and Food's drive to rid the national flock of the disease scrapie. This has meant movement restrictions on many flocks in the State.
Mr Patrick McDermott, the RDS Foundation's activities manager, said the show, the first of the season, was a resounding success and had attracted positive comments from exhibitors and visitors.
One of the visiting cattle judges, Mr Philip Davies from Powys in Wales, said he had been most impressed by the stock he judging and believed Ireland was at the forefront in producing quality animals for milk and beef production.
The show, which was officially opened by Mr Tom Parlon, Minister of State at the Department of Finance with responsibility for the OPW, praised the organisers for staging the event, which was sponsored by Allied Irish Bank.
Some of Ireland's top cattle breeders took the main awards, including Sir Anthony O'Reilly, whose female Charolais, Ballydavis Sunflower, was named champion of the class. Another of his heifers, Ballydavis Petunia, was reserve champion.
His Ballydavis Sunflower was named supreme champion of the Charolais class and he also showed the reserve supreme champion.
Other results were: champion and reserve champion Female Angus: 1st - Dillon Tara, John Farrell, Mountdillon, Curragaroe, Co Roscommon; 2nd - Carker Toyia, Sean Cronin, Scartaglen, Killarney, Co Kerry.
Supreme and reserve supreme champion Limousin: 1st - Neron, William Smith, Millbrook, Oldcastle, Co Meath; 2nd - 212, Majorque, Roger McCarrick, Pelletstown, Drumree, Co Meath.
Supreme and reserve supreme champion Simmental: 1st - Monaduff Jubilee, Neenan Bros, Coolnafarna, Ballyhaunis, Co.Mayo; 2nd - Celtic Nobleman, Martin Regan, Cloonfad, Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo.
Supreme and reserve supreme champion Holstein Friesian: 1st - Eastside, S. Twain, Galwaybay Holsteins, Sans Souci,Doughiska, Galway; 2nd: Grousehall Form Rhoda, Gene & Ronan O'Reilly, Grousehall, Loughduff, Co Cavan.