Finest Dairy Cow In Ireland
IRELAND - Two Irish brothers from County Kerry, Tim and John Kirby have won the 2010 Baileys® Irish Champion Competition which took place today at the Virginia Agricultural Show in Co Cavan on Saturday 31 July.
The cow, Smearlaview Storm Vixan, a seven year old cow, competed against 21 other bovine beauties from across the four provinces to win the prestigious competition which has been sponsored by Baileys since 1983 and recognises good body conformation with proven excellence in milk production.
Baileys Irish Cream has recognised Irish dairy farming excellence once again at the Baileys Irish Champion Cow competition recenlty. The 2010 Champion was Smearlaview Storm Vixan whilst Croagh Fran 26 who is owned by Mervyn and Philip Jones from Gorey, County Wexford was declared Reserve Champion.Other prizes were awarded in specialist categories for breeders that travelled to Virginia from as far afield as Mayo and Co Down to compete. These included the Meath breeder and Chairman of the Irish Holstein Friesian Association, Richard Whelan whose cow Lumville Danoise 2 received Honourable Mention as well as the Best Protein Content award. His other Ballyvorelduc Mandy took the Dry Cow award.
Widely acknowledged as Ireland's most prestigious dairy livestock event, the €8,000 prize contest is sponsored by Baileys Irish Cream and its cream supplier Glanbia Ingredients. Irish Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith T.D. presented the prizes alongside Andrew Furley of R&A Bailey & Co and Glanbia Chairman Liam Herlihy.
The Minister said: "The continued loyal sponsorship of both Baileys and Glanbia Ingredients has elevated this competition to one highly regarded by breeders around the country. It is one of Ireland's most prestigious dairy livestock events" he said, "and the kind of quality that is being rewarded here today represents the brightest future of an industry that has enormous potential for expansion and development".
TheCattleSite News Desk