More than 250 farmers and industry professionals attended an awards ceremony last weekend which showcased innovation and best practice in agriculture. The RDS agriculture awards are an amalgamation of the Champion of Champion Awards for livestock and the RDS-Forest Service Irish Forestry Awards, and they continue the long-standing RDS tradition of celebrating best agricultural practice.

The new awards have a total prize fund of almost €19,000 and within the livestock sector the awards for the highest economic breeding index (EBI) and the replacement index beef cow are of particular interest, being the only awards of their kind in Ireland to recognise the genetic excellence of the animals concerned.

Robert Troy’s cow Springhaven Biddy 162 EX92 won the Economic Breeding Index RDS Champion of Champions for 2017 . With an EBI of €342, Springhaven Biddy has come to the top on the latest Top 2,000 list.

After 11 lactations, she has an average calving interval of 376 days, with a lifetime production of 56,908kg of milk, 2,401 fat kg, 4.23% fat, 1,981 protein kg, and 3.49% protein.

Biddy is sired by Bagworth Zander Keet and has bred AI sire FR2351 (IG) Springhaeven Otto. Otto has an EBI figure of €311 and was on the Gene Ireland panel in 2016.

Sean Harpur’s Blonde cow Scaughmolin D9049 was awarded the Replacement Index Award. She has a euro value of €140, making her the highest replacement index HerdPlus Blonde d’Aquitaine cow in the country.

This means that she has a €uro-Star rating of five stars within the Blonde d’Aquitaine breed and five stars across all beef breeds. She has an average calving interval of 378 days and is currently in her fifth lactation. She is sired by Blackwater Solvit.

2017 RDS agriculture award winners

RDS Replacement Index Champion: Scaughmolin D90494, owned by Sean Harpur, Bannow, Co Wexford.

RDS Economic Breeding Index Champion: Springhaven Biddy 162 EX92, owned by Robert Troy Jr, Newtownshandrum, Co Cork.

RDS Irish Angus Society Champion: Carrigroe Mr Rebel, owned by John and Frank Appelbe, Clonakilty, Co Cork.

RDS Irish Aberdeen Angus Association Champion: Wedderlie Blackbox, owned by Albert and Jennifer De Cogan, Castlemartyr, Co Cork.

RDS Irish Belgian Blue Cattle Society Champion: Errill Invincible, owned by Billy Dunne, Errill, Co Laois.

RDS Irish Charolais Society Champion: Lisnagre Jessy, owned by Jim Geoghegan, Mullingar, Co Westmeath.

RDS Irish Hereford Breed Society Champion: Gouldingpoll 1 Duchess 591, owned by Matthew Goulding, Tralee, Co Kerry.

RDS Irish Holstein Friesian Association Champion: Robert Shannon, Ballinascarthy, Co Cork.

RDS Irish Limousin Cattle Society Champion: Meelickaduff Honda ET, owned by Owen Hester, Castlerea, Co Roscommon.

RDS Irish Simmental Cattle Society Champion: Clonagh Dora the Explorer, owned Garrett Behan, Portlaoise, Co Laois.

RDS Irish Shorthorn Cattle Society Champion: Bushypark Cherry 2nd, owned by John Keane, Kilfenora, Co Clare.

RDS Irish Charollais Sheep Society Champion: Logie Durno Oprah, owned by Declan and Joe Miley, Knockcroghery, Co Roscommon.

RDS Irish Suffolk Sheep Society Champion: Andrew Wilson, Raphoe, Co Donegal.

RDS Irish Texel Sheep Society Champion: PNE15076, owned by Gerard Niland, Kinvara, Co Galway.

RDS Wicklow Cheviot Sheep Owners Association Champion: David Corrigan, Newbridge, Co Kildare.