Diageo Baileys Champion Cow 2023

Diageo Baileys Champion Cow 2023

Lumville M Danoise exhibited by Clive & Joel Richardson, Annaghmore herd, Craigavon, Co. Armagh. She also won the Highest Protein award. Bred by Richard Whelan, Lumville herd, Co. Meath she was purchased as a calf at the Lumville dispersal sale in November 2017. Classified EX95 on Conformation in her fourth lactation with composite scores of EX96 Dairy Character, EX95 Mammary, EX95 Legs & Feet, EX95 Rump. In her 3rd lactation she recorded 12,451 kgs milk, 958 kgs milk solids, 4.05 % Fat, 3.65 % Protein. Bred from a VG87 2-Year-Old Dam her next Dam is Lumville Danoise 2 EX94 5E who won Baileys All Ireland Champion Cow 2008 and also won Supreme Champion RUAS Winter Fair 2008. 

Reserve Champion

Bawnmore Pepper Almeric exhibited by John & Bryan O’ Connor, Kanturk, Co. Cork. She also won best Exhibitor bred award. She won Senior Champion Tullamore National Livestock Show 2023 & also won Senior Champion and All Ireland Junior Cow, Charleville Show 2023. She is Classified EX90 2nd lactation and is bred from four generations of VG/EX Dams. Calved since mid-February she is projected to 10,300 kgs milk, 718 kgs milk solids in her second lactation. 

Honourable Mention

Hilltara Undenied Apple exhibited by Sam & John McCormick, Hilltara, Co. Down. She won Diageo Baileys Champion Cow 2022. Classified EX93 on Conformation, she is a 10th generation EX cow. She has recorded in excess of 12,500 kgs milk, 912 kgs milk solids in her current lactation. Mark Logan, Clandeboye herd in Northern Ireland was the Judge tasked with placing the 2023 entries across Heifers in Milk, Junior Cows and the ultimate spectacle of his Championship line-up. In his comments Mark said that he was highly impressed with the tremendous quality throughout. Commenting on his final four cows he said, “These are four outstandingly good cows who in any year could win Champion”. This years Highest EBI Award went to Monamore Lustrees Haniko exhibited by Patrick & Karl Colton and David Buchanan.

“A most tremendous spectacle of quality breeding, so many great cows in one ring. This has been the best Baileys Champion Cow spectacle that I have ever seen” Mark Logan, Judge.

Presentation to Brendan Smyth 

Brendan Smyth has been competition co-ordinator since the very first Baileys Champion cow competition took place forty years ago. In that time, he has expertly and dutifully fulfilled the role with utter professionalism. The success and popularity of the competition today is no doubt greatly aided by Brendan’s input. IHFA made a presentation in appreciation to Brendan to mark his retirement from the role of competition co-ordinator. Best wishes to Patrick Gaynor and Anthony Farrelly who have jointly taken on this role.

Dignitaries in attendance included IHFA President Richard Hamilton, Holstein Northern Ireland President David Perry and his wife Beatrice. Martin Heydon, Minister of State for Agriculture, Food & the Marine and Colm Markey, M.E.P. were also in attendance. Tirlán were represented by Chief Executive Jim Bergin.

Thanks to Patrick and Mary Gaynor & family for their tremendous work and support on behalf of the Diageo Baileys Champion cow competition. Thanks also to cattle stewards John Kirby, Paul Boal, Anthony Farrelly and Edwin Gaynor. 

Baileys – Diageos Dairy Success

Manufactured by Diageo the popularity of Baileys as a choice beverage is truly an Irish success story. It was the world’s first cream liquor, produced in 1974. Over 200 million litres of milk supplied by Tirlán milk suppliers is purchased by Diageo annually. Produced and bottled exclusively in Ireland it is exported to over 160 countries worldwide.