Baileys champion cow competition celebrates silver jubilee in Cavan
In the first year of the competition, 1984, 67 million litres of milk were required to make Baileys Original Irish Cream.
Today, 40,000 dairy cows across 1,500 accredited farms produce the daily cream requirement for Baileys, which totals 275 million litres of milk per annum.
Together, they make the 2,300 glasses of Baileys that are drunk every minute of every day across 130 countries.
The Baileys Champion Cow competition offers a prize fund of €8,000 and is only open to cows producing 11,000 litres of milk per annum.
That aside, it’s all down to looks with shapely legs, a good shaped back and well proportioned udders constituting some of the judging criteria.
For this year’s 25th anniversary, Baileys have invited back the 18 previous winning owners for an anniversary presentation and dinner.
Visitors to the show can view the 20-plus entrants before the competition commences in a special marquee erected by Baileys.
Paul Pratt, Ireland Home Director, R&A Bailey, said farmers who win the Baileys Champion Cow literally have customers banging on their doors.
“From our point of view this competition is about encouraging milk suppliers to meet high standards which, in turn, results in a high quality ingredient for Baileys,” he said.
Brendan Smyth, Glanbia Ingredients, thanked the Irish Holstein Friesian breeders for their ongoing support.
He confirmed that, for the first time in 12 years, there will be entries from Northern Ireland.
Holstein breeders from the North entered “The Baileys” until 1996, when BSE restrictions prevented entries.
Harry Evans, who owns the Ceinwen herd in Tycroes, Anglesey, will judge this year’s competition and the special guest will be Ireland East member of the European Parliament, Mairead McGuinness
Virginia Show, which has 67 years of history behind it, will have over 400 classes with €50,000 prize money.
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