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The core objective of the NDC & Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards is to profile farmers and businesses that are achieving top quality.
In recent years, the quality standard delivered by the entrants has improved significantly.
Now, a total bacteria count (TBC) of less than 10 and a somatic cell count (SCC) of less than 100 is almost the entry level to this national competition.
This milk comes from herds ranging in size from 60 to 300 cows.
With this in mind, and the developments in the wider livestock industry, we have widened the measurement criteria to include some of the other key barometers that are making farmers more efficient.
You have some businesses that have been farming and investing in the farm for over 60 years
Livestock efficiency, milk delivered, feed usage, environmental sustainability, biodiversity and the ambassadorial role of the farmer within the industry are important. For the judges, comparing businesses at different stages of development is very difficult.
You have some businesses that have been farming and investing in the farm for over 60 years.
Others may have started just five years ago and you are comparing facilities and investment that are years apart.
Some farms have the ability to grow large quantities of grass and they have dry ground that can carry cows all year round
Some have been developing herds for years and years while others have had to purchase complete new herds starting from zero with little or no information or at the very best limited information on what they want or have purchased.
Milk solids delivered varies with the level of input.
Some of the farms this year are feeding over 3t of meal per cow with grazed grass and forages.
Some farms have the ability to grow large quantities of grass and they have dry ground that can carry cows all year round.
Their requirement to purchase another 2t to 3t of feed per cow may be a lot less than a farmer on heavy soil that gets a lot of rain.
All this must be included in the mix of analysing a farm business depending on the geographical location and the assets that the farm has – land, labour, stock and financial capacity.
Future
A key part in the future of dairy farming in Ireland is having highly educated young people involved and working in the industry that are able to voice their opinion and understand the business.
The best ambassadors for the industry are those who work, live and love the industry.
As judges we must assess the technical delivery with the stated ambition and bring it all together.
With such a high standard, it is not easy and all finalists deserve special mention and recognition for the effort in this competition to maintain dairy farming standards.
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