The Animal Health Ireland (AHI) CellCheck awards took place yesterday evening (Thursday, November 10), at the Killashee House Hotel, Naas, Co. Kildare.

Champions from each of the 16 participating co-ops were named at the ceremony.

CellCheck

CellCheck is the national mastitis control programme, coordinated and facilitated by AHI and sponsored by FBD.

It is developed and delivered in partnership with industry bodies representing farmers, processors, service providers and the government. 

This programme complements the work which AHI does in educating dairy farmers in achieving and maintaining a low somatic cell count (SCC) level in their herd.

This delivers benefits to the herd, and more widely in terms of improved profitability, welfare and reduced antimicrobial usage.

The CellCheck Milking For Quality awards are given to the 500 milk suppliers nationally with the lowest weighted annual average SCC for the previous year’s supply. 

It is an initiative to recognise and reward the excellence of Irish dairy farmers who are currently achieving high standards of udder health on their farm. 

All 16 co-ops submitted data to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and all co-ops have winners in the ‘Best 500’ category. 

Image source: Agriland Brian

Winners

From the ‘Best 500’ category a champion from each of the co-ops is selected with the winners presented with their awards at the event yesterday.

The 16 winners selected this year from each of the co-ops are named below:

  • Arrabawn – Rory and Lucy Dunne, from Borrisokane, Co. Tipperary;
  • Aurivo – Joe and Olive Higgins from Henbrook, Hillstreet, Co. Roscommon;
  • Bandon – James and Anne Walsh of Enniskeane Co. Cork;

Click on the gallery’s below to see the full images.

  • Boherbue – Eoin and Mary O’Riordan of Islandbrack, Boherbue, Mallow, Co. Cork;
  • Barryroe – Jerry, Carmel, and Marie Keohane, Ballintemple East, Clonakilty, Co. Cork;
  • Callan – John and Catherine Lynch from Sceaugh, Callan, Co. Kilkenny;
  • Centenary Thurles – Richard Fogarty;
  • Dairygold – David and Martha Kent from Mitchelstown, Co. Cork;
  • Drinagh Noel, Richard, and Narella Jennings from The Leap, Drinagh, Co. Cork;
  • Kerry Robin and Eddie O’Donnell from Croom, Co. Limerick;
  • Lakeland Dairies Thomas and Karen Maguire from Crosserlough, Co. Cavan;
  • Lee Strand – Edward Behan;
  • Lisavaird – Stephen and Hilary Buttimer from Kilvelogue, Ballineen, Co. Cork;
  • North Cork William and Maria Stack from Moyvane South, Listowel, Co. Kerry;
  • Tipperary Co-op – Martin Ryan, Michael Slattery, and Eamon Slattery from Rossmore, Co. Tipperary;
  • Tirlán – Paul and Katherina Barry.

Stay tuned to Agriland for more updates from yesterday’s event.