Tom and Moya Power from Cappagh, Co Waterford, have just been crowned overall winners in the NDC/Kerrygold Quality Milk Award 2016. They take the overall QMA mantle from last year’s winners Kieran O’Sullivan and family from Goleen in West Cork.

This was the lightbulb moment in my career in terms of managing cell count

The Power success story offers great hope to those struggling to manage somatic cell count. In September 2008, as Tom returned home from a holiday abroad, he took a phone call from his local vet explaining to him that there were way too many cows with high cell count. It took this phone call for Tom to realise the problem he had in his herd on somatic cell count.

Speaking after the awards this week in Dublin he said: “This was the lightbulb moment in my career in terms of managing cell count. At that time, in September 2008, over 80% of the herd were delivering milk with a somatic cell count (SCC) well over 150,000 cells/ml.

“If I was to take that barometer again for this year, a little over 10% of the herd will deliver milk over 150,000 SCC in September – and remember that the herd is almost twice the size now, as we are milking over 200 cows compared to 120 back in 2008.”

Tom’s vet explained to him over the phone that his milk recording results were very bad (the average was almost 500,000) and serious work was needed to bring somatic cell count under control.

From that day onwards, Tom placed great emphasis on individual milk recording to try and individually sort somatic cell count issues one by one.

Background

Tom and Moya farm with Tom’s parents Jim and Breda, and all are helped by first cousin Shane at Cappagh near Dungarvan, Co Waterford.

Most of the grazing platform is between 700 and 800 feet above sea level, bringing with it weather challenges many dairy farmers don’t have.

Speaking at the presentation of awards in Kilmainham, Dublin, today Tom said: “I am delighted to accept the overall award cup on behalf of the Power family. This is a great reward for all the hard work and effort that is required to produce high-quality milk.”

The Powers supply Glanbia, and in 2015 the family milked 200 cows, delivering almost 1.2m litres of milk. Zoë Kavanagh, chief executive of the National Dairy Council, and Kevin Lane, chief executive of Ornua, presented the awards to the 10 shortlisted finalists at a special awards ceremony in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham.

The Power business in brief

  • 2015: milked 200 cows and delivered 1.18m litres of milk to Glanbia.

    Total area farmed is 125 hectares.

    Total of 65 hectares available for grazing around the milking parlour.

    2016: milking 220 cows.

    On-farm development: new cubicle shed under development.

    Milk fat averaged 4.43% and protein averaged 3.67% in 2015.

    Parlour: 20-unit herringbone.

    SCC results: average 102,000 cells/ml for 2015.

    TBC results: average 5,000 for 2015.