Dairygold milk suppliers Clement and Eileen Twomey from Mount Rivers, Fermoy were declared the Mitchelstown regional winner in the 2021 Dairygold Milk Quality Awards.
Clement and Eileen Twomey, working closely with Clement’s brother John, milk 120 cows with a herd EBI of €202, placing the herd in the top 1% nationally. The Twomey’s produced 538kgs milk solids per cow in 2021.
There are two rivers bordering the farm – the Blackwater and the Funcheon – and the judges could see that great attention is given to water quality on the farm as a result of this. The judges were also impressed by Clement and Eileen’s positive outlook on dairy farming and achieving the right balance between work and down time.
Speaking about the awards, Dairygold Chairman John O’Gorman said: “2021 was fraught with the challenges of Covid-19 and rising input costs towards the end of the year. Despite these challenges, Dairygold’s milk suppliers continued to provide the highest quality milk to the Society for its customers.
“The reputation of the Irish dairy industry hinges on the high standards and quality of our milk and the acknowledgement of this is demonstrated in the output from our suppliers.
“Our milk suppliers are continuing to produce ‘best in class milk’ despite industry challenges and Dairygold will continue to do what it can to support them to adapt to these challenges.”
The awards were based on 2021 milk quality data for all 2,700 Dairygold milk suppliers across counties Cork, Tipperary, Limerick and Clare. A shortlist was drawn up from each of the six Dairygold regions. Eighteen finalists underwent adjudication by Don Crowley, Teagasc Dairy Specialist and Professor Karina Pierce, UCD.
While adhering to Covid-19 protocols and guidelines, the judges visited the shortlisted farms to review their farm enterprises first-hand. The review took account of milk quality, dairy facilities, herd health and welfare, sustainability and general efficiencies and farm health and safety.
The judges chose one overall winner, six regional winners and a sustainability winner.
Mitchelstown
Regional winner – Clement and Eileen Twomey, Mount Rivers, Fermoy, Co. Cork. Regional finalist – William, Anne and Jerry Foley, Ballinraha, Ballyhooly, Co. Cork. Regional finalist – Tadgh O’Brien, Behenaugh, Kilbehenny, Mitchelstown, Co. Cork.
Mallow Region
Regional winner and 3rd overall – Conor Murphy, Kileen, Aghabullogue, Co. Cork. Regional finalist – Shane O’Donoghue, Tullig, Millstreet, Co. Cork. Regional finalist – Blossomfort Farm (c/o Michael Moynihan), Blossomfort, Ballyclough, Mallow, Co. Cork.
East Cork Region
Regional winner – Henry and Ann Bailey, Monkstown, Co. Cork. Regional finalist – Togher Holstein Farm (c/o George Kingston), Knocklisheen, Togher, Co. Cork. Regional finalist – John and Mary Ring, Coolowen, Blarney, Co. Cork.
Limerick Region
Regional winner and 1st overall – Gearoid and Sarah Maher, Killuragh, Cappamore, Co. Limerick. Regional finalist and Sustainability winner – Liam and Geraldine Herlihy, Kingsland, Bruree, Kilmallock, Co. Limerick. Regional finalist – Anthony McCormack, Mooghaun, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Co. Clare.
Mid Cork
Regional winner and 2nd overall – James and Orla Hurley, Dromfeigh, Ballineen, Co. Cork. Regional finalist – Sean, John and Eileen O’Leary, Kilbarry, Macroom, Co. Cork. Regional finalist – John Keane, Coolmakee West, Farnanes, Co. Cork.
Tipperary Region
Regional winner – Jack, Bridie and John Martin, Coolentallagh, Burncourt, Cahir, Co. Tipperary. Regional finalist – Edmund Tobin, Killeenasteena, Cashel, Co. Tipperary. Regional finalist – Derrycloney Farms (c/o John and Emma O’Connor), Derrycloney, New Inn, Cashel, Co. Tipperary.
