Dairy farmer John scoops top prize at milk quality awards

Dairy farmer John Payne from Longford has won the top award in the Connacht Gold milk quality awards.

Mr Payne, a new entrant to the competition, graduated from the UK-based Harper Adams University in 2001 with a degree in agricultural science, and has joined his father Roy on the family farm. In November, he is due to marry Jasmine Toner from Co Meath, who is also a graduate of Harper Adams.

The Connacht Gold award winner milks 105 cows at Torboy, Moydow, which was converted from sucklers and sheep to dairying in 2010. His average yield in 2011 was 6,000 litres per cow, with 4.17% butterfat, 3.42% protein and 4.67% lactose.

He is farming 60ha, of which 35ha is available for grazing. More land has become available adjacent to the grazing block and his plan is to increase cow numbers to 150 over the coming years.

Meanwhile, Connacht Gold category award winners included father and son team Tom and Peter Burke, of Partry, Claremorris. Co Mayo. They took the top award for the highest standards of hygiene in liquid milk.

The award for the highest standards of hygiene in manufacturing milk went to Tom Lavelle, Breaffy, Castlebar, Co Mayo.

Brothers Ian and David Lamberton, from Fahan, Co Donegal, were presented with the award for the highest milk quality among Donegal suppliers.

Cathal Lowry, Gortymadden, Loughrea, Co Galway, was presented with the award for the highest percentage of milk solids. The award for milk with the lowest somatic cell count in 2011 went to Tom Dickson and his daughter Hazel who farm at Ballinakill, Moate, Co Westmeath.

The award for the most improved somatic cell count went to Pat Monaghan, Headford, Co Galway.

George and Alexander Steen, Clogher, Co Tyrone, took the award for the highest quality milk from Connacht Gold’s suppliers in Northern Ireland.