Top Milk Supplier Award
The 16th annual Aurivo Milk Quality Awards saw the highest accolade of Aurivo Milk Supplier of the Year presented to Michael Gordon, who operates a family run dairy farm in Crossmolina, County Mayo. Michael was recognised by judges for his dedication to animal welfare, excellent milk quality, and sustainable farming practices.

Michael has been farming in Crossmolina, Co. Mayo since 1998. He converted from beef to dairying in 2018 and now milks 75 crossbred cows on 50 hectares. Michael’s wife Ita and their children, Emily, Kevin, Ciara and Aoife are all involved in the farm. Michael enjoys working with his family and seeing the herd progress. The family take great pride in their herd and practise the highest standards of animal welfare from calf to cow.

Michael will now represent Aurivo at the NDC and Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards, which sets out to celebrate the best milk suppliers in Ireland.

In addition to the overall award, Michael received the Excellence in Udder Health award. Michael credits his success in this category to his continuous and close monitoring of his herd’s cell count. Michael utilises data available to eliminate the spread of infection, by using culture and sensitivity testing to ensure cows receive the correct treatment and reduce the use of antibiotics on farm.

Donal Tierney, Chief Executive of Aurivo acknowledged the huge commitment to quality and standard of the winning dairy farmer entrants. “Now in its 16th year, the Aurivo Milk Quality Awards is an annual award programme which recognises a degree of excellence in dairy farming. I am delighted to be here today to congratulate our eight Milk Quality Award winners, who exemplify commitment to the highest quality of milk supply for both liquid and manufacturing milk.
 
“Our farming families’ remarkable commitment and dedication allows us to produce the best quality milk and we are proud of the quality milk pool of our almost 1,000 suppliers in both the Republic and Northern Ireland.”

Left to right: Raymond Barlow Aurivo Chairman, Simona Ciorita Aurivo Dairy Advisor, Aoife Gordon, Ita Gordon, Michael Gordon, Kevin Gordon, Donal Tierney Aurivo CEO.

Seven other milk suppliers were also acknowledged for their contribution to dairy farming excellence in a range of award categories:

Aurivo Champion of Sustainability
Dolan Farming Ltd – Hollymount, Co. Mayo
Dolan Farming Ltd, a fifth-generation family farm in Hollymount, Co Mayo run by Louis, his wife Bernie and their son David were recognised by judges for their continuous focus on sustainability and the farm’s low emission trajectory. Louis credits the family’s success to their focus on crossbreeding to produce high protein and fat output. They have reduced the use of nitrogen on farm by using protected urea and 30% of their grazing platform has clover included.

Left to right: Raymond Barlow Aurivo CEO, Simona Ciorita Aurivo Dairy Advisor, Catherine Dooley, David Dolan, Donal Tierney Aurivo CEO

Lowest TBC in Liquid Milk
Brian Gallagher – Castlefinn, Co. Donegal
Father and sons’ team, Brian, Stephen, and Mark milk 109 Holstein Friesian cows on their 80-hectare of land in Castlefinn, Co Donegal. The family team credit their success to meticulous cleanliness and attention to detail, as well as a consistent milking routine.

Back row: Raymond Barlow Aurivo Chairman, Lawrence McNamee Aurivo Board, Paul Cullinan Aurivo Dairy Advisor, Brian Gallagher, Stephen Gallagher, Donal Tierney Aurivo CEO
Font row:  Ciarán Gallagher, Laura Gallagher, Niall Gallagher

Most Improved SCC
John & Evan Hunt – Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo
Father and son team John and Evan Hunt operate a sixth-generation dairy farm in Tubercurry, Co Sligo. John and Evan milk 122 cows on the 55-hectare farm. Awarded for the most improved somatic cell count, John and Evan credit the accomplishment to milk recording and managing the data available to them to make continuous improvements.

Left to right: Raymond Barlow Aurivo Chairman, Tommie Devine Aurivo Dairy Advisor, Eirene Cullane, Evan Hunt, Martin Gallagher Aurivo Board, Donal Tierney Aurivo CEO

Highest Average Milk Solids
Three Bends Dairy – Eamonn Heaney – Craughwell, Co. Galway
Eamonn Heaney operates a fourth-generation farm which has been in business on the Heaney family land since the 1930s. Today, Eamonn milks 220 crossbreed cows on 147 hectares, with the help of his wife Trish and their four children. Recognised for the best practice resulting in the Highest Average Milk Solids, Eamonn credits the award to grass management and breeding, and has been using AI since 1957, when it first began.

Back row: Kevin Callanan Aurivo Board, Raymond Barlow Aurivo Chairman, Tom Heaney, Eamonn Heaney, Trish Heaney, Kate Heaney, Donal Tierney Aurivo CEO
Front row: Killian Bannon Aurivo Dairy Advisor, Adeline Heaney, Michael Heaney, Noah Heaney.

Best New Entrants
Kilbegnet Dairy – Creggs, Co. Roscommon
Aisling Ward and her family farm 350 acres in Creggs, Co Roscommon, where 300 crossbreed cows graze. Kilbegnet Dairy credits the award of Best New Entrant and its successful start in dairying to breeding selection, grassland management and starting with the best stock available.

Left to right: Raymond Barlow Aurivo Chairman, Michael Ward , Aisling Ward, Michael Kenny Aurivo Board, Killian Bannon Aurivo Dairy Advisor, Donal Tierney Aurivo CEO

Best Northern Ireland Supplier
Mona & Peter Millar – Coleraine, Co. Derry
The Millar family are second generation farmers in Coleraine, Co Derry, where Peter and his mother Mona milk 130 Holstein cows on 250 acres of land. Peter and Mona credit their success to continuous improvements in herd genetics and in sourcing stock buy-in from top PLI herds in the UK, as well as a great focus on nutrition.

Lowest TBC in Manufacturing Milk
James Ward – Dunmore, Co. Galway
The Ward family began farming on the 170 acres in Dunmore in 1970, with James taking over the family farm from his parents Michael and Mary in 2001. James converted to dairy farming in 2012 and now milks 96 Holstein Friesian cows. James credits his success to strict, consistent hygiene regimes.

Left to right: Raymond Barlow Aurivo Chairman, Killian Bannon Aurivo Dairy Advisor, James Ward, Mary Reddington, Kevin Callanan Aurivo Board, Donal Tierney Aurivo CEO