Overall winner receives the perpetual trophy and €5,000

Please complete this form. All sections to be completed.

Nominated by (Dairy/Co-op)*

Farmer(s)/Farm Family name*

Address

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Eir code

Phone*

Area CodePhone Number

Email*

example@example.com

Supplier of Liquid Milk*

*If both, enter percentage

Supplier of Manufacturing Milk*

Dairy/Co-op contact name*

Phone*

Area CodePhone Number

Email*

example@example.com

Farm Advisor Name (clarify if Teagasc, Consultancy, etc)*

Email*

example@example.com

Phone*

Area CodePhone Number

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: 30th April 2025

For further information or assistance in completing this form please contact the team on info@qualitymilkawards.ie or 087-177 3475

Rules of the competition

The title and concept of the NDC & Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards are copyright protected and cannot be used by third parties or other commercial interests without prior approval from the organisers and sponsors.
The competition is open only to farmer(s) living in and farming in the Republic of Ireland.
The competition is open to farmer(s) who are producing liquid or manufacturing milk. Only farmer(s) who are milk-recording are eligible for nomination.
All co-ops, regardless of milk pool, may nominate one farm only for the competition.
The minimum qualifying standard for entry is TBC of 15,000 or less/ml average per month with no count greater than 50,000 and monthly average SCC of 200,000 or less/ml with no count greater than 400,000ml in any given month of the year in question.
Mandatory Notification: Herds currently restricted (i.e. TB) or restricted within the award years in question are not eligible for nomination. The organisers should be immediately notified if the herd becomes restricted after nominations have been submitted and particularly if you have received a farm visit date.
The nominations received will be assessed by an independent panel of judges. The preliminary assessment of entrants is based on the information submitted by the nominator. The judges may select a shortlist of national finalists and will arrange to visit the farm of each of the finalists in order to select the winning farm.
It is entirely at the discretion of the judges each year to select whether category prizes should be awarded.
The judges are independent experts - their decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. Judges will need access to TBC/SCC/Composition figures and other information services as part of the shortlisting process.
Previous nominees not reaching finalist stage may be re-nominated in subsequent years. However, previous finalists are not eligible for re-nomination for a period of 3 years from their finalist year.
The overall winner of the NDC & Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards is excluded from re-nomination for this award programme for a period of 5 years (eligible for re-nomination within, or after, the 6th year following the original winning nomination)

SECTION ONE - MILKING DETAILS & MILK QUALITY

A. TABLE FOR 2024 to be completed and verified by the nominator (i.e. Dairy/Co-op MQ Advisor/Manager).*

	Milk Supply Litres/month	Average TBC Results	Average SCC Results	Butterfat %	Protein %	Lactose % (If available)	Thermoduric Bacteria (Count/ml) If available*
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Totals will be completed on submission.

B. 2025

	Milk Supply Litres/month	Average TBC Results	Average SCC Results	Butterfat %	Protein %	Lactose % (If available)	Thermoduric Bacteria (Count/ml) If available*
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr*
May*
Jun*
Jul*

Totals will be completed on submission.

*Please note: If farm is shortlisted as a finalist in this award programme, the judges may complete the final rows of this table.

B. Milking

i). Number of Cows in herd 2025*

ii). Average number of dairy Cows milked 2024*

iii). Total milk solids delivered 2024*

iv). How many times per year do you milk-record?*

v). Average herd yield: Litres/Cow *

vi). Average herd yield: milk solids/cow (milk delivered)*

C. Was there any evidence of adulteration in the 2024/2025 YTD period? (Yes/No)

YesNo

D. Is the milk tested for TCM residue? (Yes/No)

YesNo

- Is the milk tested for: Chlorates? (Yes/No)

YesNo

E. Was there any evidence of TCM residues or chlorates during the 2024/2025 YTD period? (Yes/No)

YesNo

- Provide test results if any*

F. Was there any evidence of off-flavours in the milk supplied to you during the year? (Yes/No)

YesNo

G. How frequently per month is TBC assessed?*

H. How frequently per month is SCC assessed?*

I. Is the milk assessed for thermoduric bacteria? (Yes/No)

YesNo

J. How often is milk collected by the processor?*

K. How do you identify when a mastitis infection is present?*

L. How do you ensure that cross transfer to other cows does not occur?*

M. Please describe your pre-milking preparation*

N. Describe post-milking teat disinfection procedures if used*

O. Describe your current, i.e. 2025, milking machine washing procedure detergent volume, water temperature, etc.*

- How many milking units?*

- What is the size of the wash trough in the dairy?*

- Do you have an automatic or manual machine wash?*

- How much water do you use to rinse plant after milking and after the main wash cycle?*

- How often do you use a hot/cold wash?*

- What quantity and temperature of hot water is available?*

- What detergent product do you use to wash plant and what rate is used?*

- Do you reuse the detergent solution and how often?*

- How often do you carry out a descale wash?*

- How often do you change the filter sock?*

- Is this a chlorine-free dairy? (Yes/No)

YesNo

- What detergent product is used to wash the bulk tank?*

- Where are detergents stored?*

- Any other details?

P. Name two important recommendations in maintaining lactose levels in late lactation*

SECTION TWO - SUSTAINABILITY, CLIMATE MITIGATION & NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT

A. Total Farm area (ha) & Total grazing area (ha)*

B. Overall farm stocking rate for dairy herd ha/lu*

- Number of days at grass (include period from first day to last day)*

C. Do you have a Nutrient Management Plan? (Yes/No)

YesNo

i) Describe the approach to Nutrient Management

ii) What is frequency of soil testing?*

iii) Is there a report available? (Yes/No)

YesNo

iv) How do you maximise use of farm slurry to reduce chemical fertilizer usage?

v) Do fertiliser purchases tally with NMP?*

YesNo

- Can you provide proof?*

YesNo

vi) Do you use contractor or own spreading?*

ContractorOwn

vii) Did you use less (quantity) fertilizer in 2024 as compared to 2023?*

YesNo

viii) How much lime was spread in 2024?*

- Can you provide proof?

YesNo

D. Carbon Footprint

i) What is the farm's Carbon Footprint Score?*

ii) Have you tried to reduce it? (Yes/No) If so, how?

iii. Do you understand the process of storing and emitting carbon from your farm? (Yes/No)

YesNo

E. TECHNOLOGY

i) Describe how environmentally friendly technology has been adopted on the farm.

ii) Detail total capital investment incl. breakdown of the various investments.

F. Describe any measures you have taken in the last five years to make the farm more environmentally friendly (e.g. use of water, improve lighting efficiency, reduce waste/emissions, protection of waterways, reduce soil erosion, preserve/prevent loss of wildlife habitats, etc)

G. Have you introduced/followed the new Nitrate Action Plan measures such as roadways cambered away from water sources, fencing 1.5m from bank of waterways, etc? If yes, please expand

H. Concentrates (kgs per cow) per annum?*

- What protein percentage is concentrate during main grazing season? *

I. Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) & Potassium (K) used (kg/ha p/annum)

Detail breakdown of Nitrogen*

Detail breakdown of Potassium*

Detail breakdown of Phosphorus*

J. Are you using?:

Urea (%)*

Pro-Urea (%)*

CAN (%)*

Compound*

*note: (Total is 100%)

K. Do you measure grass?

YesNo

If yes how many measures per year?

L. Do you reseed annually? (Yes/No) / If so, how many ha in 2024?*

M. What percentage of the grazing platform has clover incorporated?*

N. Are you registered with PastureBase Ireland? (Yes/No)

YesNo

O. Do you participate in the Low-Carbon, Agri-Environment Scheme - GLAS? (Yes/No)

YesNo

P. Are the Spring and Autumn Rotation Planners used to maximise length of the grazing season?*

Q. What are your plans in 2025 with regards further reducing greenhouse gases or carbon emissions from your farm?

R. BIODIVERSITY

i) Have you any marsh, conservation, or water body area on the farm?

ii) What planting or hedging have you carried out on the farm in the last year?

iii) Have you any measure of the birdlife & wildlife on the farm?*

SECTION THREE - BREEDING, HERD HEALTH & ANIMAL WELFARE

A. BREEDING

i) Are you a Herdplus member? (Yes/No)

YesNo

ii) Herd EBI*

Replacement stock EBI*

iii) What is your replacement rate?*

iv) What is the average lactation number for the herd?*

v) Are replacements reared on farm?*

Reared on farmContract reared

vi) What proportion of calves are beef-sired? (%)*

- What proportion of calves are dairy-sired (%)*

vii) What percentage of cows are in calf to Friesian AI (%)*

Other beef/dairy-sires (%)*

Natural sires (%)*

viii) What level (if any) sexed semen was used in your herd in 2024?*

ix) Outline your breeding policy incl any information if available about EBI usage in breeding.

x) CALVING PERIOD

Breeding start date?*

Date

Calving start date? *

Date

Calving end date?*

Date

xi) Are dairy-bred male calves: *Important Note: farms sending calves for early-term slaughter will not be considered for this competition.*

Reared on farmSold at martSold at homeSent for live export

B. HERD HEALTH

i) What do you consider to be your main herd problems and how are you tackling them?*

ii) Is there a bulk milk disease screening programme on farm? (Yes/No)

YesNo

iii) Was there any incidence of bovine tuberculosis, brucellosis or any other notifiable diseases within the dairy herd in the period in question; or is the herd restricted at present?

YesNo

iv) Is the farm participating in the Irish Johne's Control Programme (IJCP)? (Yes/No)

YesNo

v) What vaccination programme do you conduct on farm?*

vi) How many quarters treated for mastitis in 2024?*

vii) What dry cow therapy is used?*

Teat Sealer OnlyAntibiotic OnlyTeat Sealer + Antibiotic

a. If using partial teat sealer only, what % used in herd in 2024?

b. What lactating mastitis tubes were prescribed?*

c. How many tubes are applied per individual case?*

d. Do you use injectable antibiotic in addition to the mastitis tubes? (Yes/No) What product was used?*

e. Do you use laboratory tests to identify: the mastitis causing bacteria in quarter milk samples? (Yes/No)

YesNO

- The most appropriate antibiotic to use? (Yes/No)

YesNo

C. Animal Welfare

i) Can you give examples of how you are promoting best practice in the context of animal welfare and milk quality (Consider trimming tails etc NB docking tails is of course prohibited and therefore herds with docked tails will not be considered in the competition)*

ii) In terms of herd welfare, are you monitoring lameness? (Yes/No)

YesNo

- Please give details:

SECTION FOUR - BUSINESS

A. Is there evidence of appropriate labour levels on the farm?*

B. What family members contribute to the farm business? - describe their roles:

C. Is there outside labour employed on the farm (eg students, farm relief etc) and what roles to they cover?

D. What tasks are carried out by contractors?

E. Describe any measures taken to provide reasonable Work-Life Balance

F. Do you have any training /development programmes in place? If so please give details

G. What are the future plans for the farm? Briefly explain the vision

SECTION FIVE - INFRASTRUCTURE

A. How many cubicle spaces are available:

Cows*

Heifers*

B. Describe what type of accommodation/housing is included on the farm

C. Is there any development potential or role for on-farm energy generation or renewal resources? (solar water re-use, wind, night rate etc)

D. Checklist*

	Yes	No
Is teat disinfection practised?
Is the outside of the milking machine clean (clusters, rubbers etc)?
Do you have paper towel dispensers in the parlour?
Is the dairy clean and tidy?
Is the bulk tank temperature reading correct?
Is milking parlour clean and tidy?
Is the water hose the right size for the parlour?
Is there a noticeboard in the parlour for recording cow treatments?
Are wash-up facilities sufficient (hot water supply, measures for detergent etc)?
Is the collecting yard clean and of adequate size?

E. Have you adequate slurry storage for all stock on the farm? (Yes/No)

YesNo

- How many weeks storage for all stock? *

- How many weeks waste water storage have you?*

F. What is the standard of roadways and farm infrastructure?*

SECTION SIX - AMBASSADORIAL ROLE

A. Do you participate in any of the following?*

Teagsc discussion groupPrivate discussion groupNot involved

B. Name of discussion group if applicable

C. How often do you meet

D. Have you been audited and approved for the Bord Bia's Sustainable Dairy Assurance Scheme (SDAS)? (Yes/No)

YesNo

E. Do you complete a profit monitor? (Yes/No)

YesNo

F. Are you a board member of your Co-op? (Yes/No)

YesNo

G. What involvement do you and family members have in interests outside the farm business (e.g. at community level etc)*

SECTION SEVEN - FARMER(S) COMMENTARY

FOR THE FARMER(S) & FARM FAMILY TO COMPLETE:

Use this space to add additional commentary, for example to expand on your farming enterprise, roles on your farm, or anything else you feel is relevant.*

SECTION EIGHT - NOMINATOR COMMENTARY

FOR THE CO-OP MILK QUALITY ADVISOR/TEAM TO COMPLETE: Your opportunity to describe why this farmer(s) /farm family has been selected to represent your co-op, and to comment on the achievements of the farm.*

DECLARATION - please read the following and click the buttons to agree to the statements.

I/we have read the rules and information regarding this competition*

I ConfirmNo

To the best of my/our knowledge, my/our farm is in compliance with all necessary food production legislation.*

I ConfirmNo

I/we hereby affirm that all of the information supplied by me/us is to the best of my/our knowledge accurate*

I ConfirmNo

My/our dairy facility is in compliance with the requirements of Regulation 853/2004 and a Farm Safety Statement is present*

I ConfirmNo

Signed by Farmers/Entrant

Date

Signed by Co-op Nominator*

Date*

Date

IMPORTANT NOTE

The following reports should be made available to the judges on the day of their visit:

1. Dairy Calving report: mortality at birth and to 28 days;

2. ICBF end of year report;

3. Most recent soil report for the farm.

4. Last three milk recording reports including cell check, overall farm summary report and lifetime summary report.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: 01-290 2451 | 087-177 3475 | info@qualitymilkawards.ie

NDC & Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards 2025 Entry Form

Overall winner receives the perpetual trophy and €5,000

SECTION ONE - MILKING DETAILS & MILK QUALITY

B. Milking

SECTION TWO - SUSTAINABILITY, CLIMATE MITIGATION & NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT

D. Carbon Footprint

E. TECHNOLOGY

R. BIODIVERSITY

SECTION THREE - BREEDING, HERD HEALTH & ANIMAL WELFARE

A. BREEDING

x) CALVING PERIOD

B. HERD HEALTH

C. Animal Welfare

SECTION FOUR - BUSINESS

SECTION FIVE - INFRASTRUCTURE

SECTION SIX - AMBASSADORIAL ROLE

SECTION SEVEN - FARMER(S) COMMENTARY

SECTION EIGHT - NOMINATOR COMMENTARY

DECLARATION - please read the following and click the buttons to agree to the statements.

IMPORTANT NOTE

Deadline for submission is 5pm on 30th April 2025