Summer shows have been at the heart of rural Ireland for decades, integrating communities around the country. They are a wonderful day out for the family and give people an insight into what goes on at farm level.

It’s not just about the rosettes, prize money or trophies, it’s the social aspect of bringing people together, something we need now more than ever.

As well as that, times are changing and farming is coming under attack from a number of different angles. Summer shows are a fantastic way of answering farming’s greatest critics, highlighting our excellent animal welfare standards, our elite genetics, outstanding animal husbandry and, most of all, our culture.

As an island free of many threatening diseases, including bluetongue, shows are a brilliant way of promoting Irish livestock abroad. Many Irish cattle have been exported after being spotted at summer shows, making them a terrific shop window.

However, their existence is important now for an entirely different reason. In recent years, we have seen tension grow more and more between cattle breed societies and the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF).

In many cases, frustration stems when the phenotype of an animal is not reflected in its indexes. Some of the highest index animals are not the most eye appealing. This has caused many breeders to question their accuracy. ICBF will attest some traits cannot be evaluated by just looking at an animal, such as milk, calving ease, fertility and feed efficiency, something we cannot deny and must accept.

However, it is also vital that we continue to breed cattle that display the true characteristics of their breed. Focusing solely on indexes will undoubtedly lead to breeds losing breed character.

Shows give breeders the opportunity to demonstrate these characteristics, without the influence of indexes. For this reason alone, it is imperative they are supported.

Over the coming months we will be bringing you as much coverage as possible from the shows. We understand their importance and commend all the volunteers and exhibitors who make them happen.