NDC quality milk award winners
The father-and-son team, supplying Kerry Agribusiness, were presented with the NDC perpetual cup and €5,000 by special guest Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh at the awards ceremony in Dublin’s RDS.
Michael Enright has been building the herd from scratch since his early teens. No milk is supplied in December or January. Seventy two cows were milked in 2010, averaging 5,746 litres (1,260 gallons) at 3.43% protein, 3.92% butterfat, 4.76% lactose, TBC of 7, and SCC of 138.
* National runners up and top liquid milk suppliers are Michael and Gerard Gowing, the sixth generation of their family farming at Kilminchy, Co Laois. They have a 300-acre farm with a 250-acre grazing block. One hundred cows were milked in 2010, averaging 7,100 litres (1,560 gallons) per cow, 3.37% protein, butterfat 3.9%, lactose 4.71%, TBC 5.75, and SCC 148.
They use night rate electricity for an ice-builder to achieve low bulk tank temperature, and to supply water at 90 degrees C for milking machine and tank cleaning.
* The judges’ award for excellence in fresh milk went to Lee Strand Co-op supplier Tommy Culloty, Currovough, Tralee, Co Kerry. He farms 120 acres (80 adjusted), supplying milk all year. Tommy’s father drives the mobile refrigerated bulk tank to the co-op every day.
The Culloty herd of 60 cows averaged 4,362 litres (958 gallons) in 2010, with 3.31% protein, butterfat 3.75%, TBC 9, and SCC 166. High quality milk results are achieved with relatively old facilities.
* The judges’ award for diligence went to Michael Cully, Tubbercurry, Co Sligo, a Connacht Gold Co-op supplier.
On 48 hectares with a 26 hectares grazing block, Michael milked 45 cows in 2010, with 3.38% protein, butterfat 4.1%, TBC 11 and SCC 175. The average yield was 5,214 litres (1,150 gallons). Their six-unit herringbone parlour is old, but simple and functional. Success has been achieved despite farm fragmentation and difficult soil type.
* The judges’ award for low SCC went to Daragh Kennedy, Kippagh, Dunmanway, Co Cork, farm manager at the Lisavaird Co-op farm of 45 hectares, with a 28 ha grazing block. He milked 67 cows all year round in 2010, averaging 6,981 litres (1,530 gallons), with protein at 3.44%, butterfat 3.71%, lactose 4.69%, TBC 12, and SCC 94.
Daragh uses solar panels for the dairy and reed beds, and , maximises use of night rate electricity.
* The award for sustainable use of existing facilities went to Charles McCandless, Culduff, Co Donegal, supplying Donegal Creameries. On 150 ha (100 ha grazing block), he milked 71 cows all year round in 2010, averaging 8,259 litres (1,815 gallons), with protein at 3.11%, butterfat 3.79%, TBC 8.8, and SCC 164. In 2004, nine years after starting to grade up the herd to pedigree, his Mosstown James Romulet won the senior heifer in milk class, and was reserve junior champion, at the Agribex European Championships in Belgium. Farming near Malin Head, on peaty land, Charles grazes 350 ewes on the hilly areas.
* Donal McCarthy, Bishopland, Drimoleague, Co Cork won the award for sustainable breeding strategy.
The Drinagh Co-op supplier farms 47 hectares (36 hectares grazing block. He milked 96 spring calvers in 2010, averaging 5,180 litres (1,140 gallons), with protein at 3.35%, butterfat 3.69%, TBC 11, and SCC 171.
* The under 50 cows award for milk quality went to Bandon Co-op suppliers Vanessa and David O’Connor, Russell Hill, Upton, Co Cork. Vanessa is a qualified farm manager, David is actively involved in the farm but also works off-farm. Judges said their eight-unit herringbone milking parlour is old but spotlessly clean. The O’Connors milked 40 cows in 2010, averaging 5,539 litres (1,220 gallons), with protein at 3.22%, butterfat 3.89%, lactose 4.5%, TBC 11, and SCC 98.
* The award for sustainable development went to Callan Co-op suppliers John and his son PJ O’Keeffe, Court-na-Boola, Callan, Co Kilkenny.
They farm 100 ha (48 ha grazing). They milked 96 cows in 2010, averaging 4,400 litres (989 gallons), with protein at 3.53%, butterfat 4.16%, lactose 4.59%, TBC 7, and SCC 146. They have built a new shed for their beef production, with the possibility of conversion if cow numbers increase.
* The award for year round protein excellence went to Norman Tuthill, Brookfield, Baurleigh, Bandon, Co Cork, a supplier to Barryroe Co-op.
He farms 320 acres, with a 200 acre grazing block, supplying milk all year round. In 2010, he milked 140 cows, averaging just under 6,450 litres (1,420 gallons), with protein at 3.52%, butterfat 4.04%, lactose 4.57%, TBC 14, and SCC 143. Year round protein excellence is attributed to breeding policy and overall management.
Automatic cluster removal, washing cow ID, feeding, backing gates, scrapers, and an adjustable pit floor are features of the 20-unit herringbone parlour.
A two-stage plate cooler and ice bank tank which uses night-rate electricity are used.
* Winning the award for facilities, Paschal Walsh farms 250 acres with a 200 acre grazing block at Ardbash House, Edenderry, Co Offaly. Supplying Glanbia/Virginia, he milked 180 cows in 2010, averaging 6,333 litres (1,400 gallons), with protein at 3.19%, butterfat 3.69%, lactose 4.79%, TBC 4.8, and SCC 131. Paschal has invested heavily in new housing and milking facilities, including a 40-unit state-of-the-art parlour and automated plant washing. Night-rate electricity is used to make ice water for cooling.
