Ornua and the National Dairy Council are pleased to announce that two Cork families are among winners at the 2023 NDC and Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards.
The Coleman family, from Bandon – supplying Barryroe Co-op –were crowned winners of the Adoption of Technologies Award and the O’Leary family, from Cloghroe – supplying Dairygold Co-op – won the Highest EBI Award.
The Cork families were announced as category winners of the prestigious awards at a special ceremony held in Ballymaloe House in Co. Cork, where a total of 14 farming families from seven counties, representing 14 dairy co-operatives, were acknowledged for excellence in dairy farming and milk production.
Following nomination from their respective co-operative, each finalist participated in an intensive judging process examining a broad range of criteria including environmental management, animal health and welfare, farm infrastructure and hygiene, soil and grassland management and technical performance, among other core indicators.
OVERALL WINNERS
The MacNamara family from Hospital in Co. Limerick were crowned overall winners at the awards ceremony, recognised among their peers for demonstrating high standards of excellence across the board, accepting the NDC & Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards perpetual cup for 2023.
A total of seven category awards were also presented to families who recorded outstanding performance in environment management, EBI, farm infrastructure, adoption of technologies, grassland management, protein and butter fat content, and low carbon footprint.
PROUD DAY
Commenting on the awards Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue TD, said: “The NDC and Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards recognise the exceptionally high standards in dairy farming practice that Irish farming families exhibit every day across the country. My sincere congratulations go to the 2023 overall winner, the Macnamara family, on their success in reaching the pinnacle of this year’s programme.
“To be recognised by your own co-operative as a nominee is in itself a fantastic achievement, so all of the 14 finalists can be immensely proud of this recognition, and I wish them all continued success.”
This year’s judging panel included Karina Pierce, Professor of Dairy Production in University College Dublin School of Agriculture and Food Science, Dr Patrick Wall, Professor of Public Health at University College Dublin and Dr David Gleeson of Teagasc.
AWARDS AND CATEGORY WINNERS
Overall Winner & Farm Infrastructure Award – MacNamara Farm, Hospital, Co Limerick – Kerry Agri-Business. Overall Runner-up & Environment Award – Bergin Farm, Cashel, Co Tipperary – Centenary Thurles. Grassland Management Award – Brennan Farm, Kilcogy Upper, Co. Cavan – Lakeland Dairies. Adoption of Technologies Award – Coleman Farm, Bandon, Co Cork – Barryroe. Best Protein & Butterfat Percentage Award – Gordon Farm, Crossmolina, Co Mayo – Aurivo Co-op. Lowest Carbon Footprint Award – Lonergan Farm, Drangan More, Cahir, Co Tipperary. Highest EBI Award – O’Leary farm, Cloghroe, Co Cork – Dairygold.
