Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Kerry has Baileys cream

Kerry showed it had prowess in dairy cattle breeding and not just on the football field when it scooped first prize in the 26th Baileys Champion Dairy Cow competition.
The country's most coveted prize went to Kerry breeder John Kirby, from Listowel, for his cow Smearlaview Forbidden Vixan which was first placed in the competition at Virginia Show on Wednesday.
John took home the Virginia Milk Products trophy today as well as the €2,000 cash prize and the Best Exhibitor Bred title, beating off competition from Ireland's finest.
A total of 27 dairy cows from all over Ireland qualified for this year's competition, proving their credentials by having produced 1,500 gallons of milk.
Kilwarden Gibson Vixan, owned by Brochan Cocoman from Kill, Co Kildare, was declared Reserve Champion. R Whelan and E Kelly from Clonard in Co Meath took the Best Dry Cow title with Lumville Danoise 2, who also won the Highest Protein Content award.
Monomore Durham Raven, owned by Thomas Kelly from Drogheda, Co Louth, was declared Best EBI and Jerome Smith from Kilnaleck, Co Cavan, took the Best Heifer in Milk prize for Dalevalley OTI Ebony.
The €8,000 prize contest which is sponsored by Baileys and its cream supplier Glanbia Ingredients was as ever a tough one. This year's judge, John Gribbon of Holstein UK, said: "It is an honour to judge the best cow in Ireland and these winners could successfully compete anywhere in the world."

No comments: