Tom, who farms at Philipstown near Drogheda, Co Louth, has entered the competition every year since its inception. His Monamore herd is well known amongst the dairy breeding elite and the family's reputation for breeding dates back to the late 1800's.

Two of his select Monamore bulls are prized for AI and it is their mother, along with a younger cow, he is planning on entering to the competition this year. The herd comprises 250 cows with a 9,000 litre average yield, at 3.6 % butterfat and 3.4 % protein.

The Diageo Baileys Champion Dairy Cow Competition, which is sponsored by the drinks company Diageo in association with its cream supplier Glanbia Ingredients Ireland Ltd, takes places at the Virginia Show Co. Cavan this Wednesday (20th August).

The competition has a €10,000 prize fund and this year’s judge is 40-year-old Brian Miller from Somerset. He is the owner of the prize-winning Moorshard Herd and his 400 acre farm is based just outside Bridgewater. The herd comprises 200 cows producing an average of 11,000 litres on a twice daily milking routine.