Quality milk award winners 2004
Michael Milligan of Culvennan Farm, Castle Douglas has won the Quality Milk Award 2004, sponsored by Pfizer Animal Health, receiving £7,000 worth of parlour equipment or housing upgrade of his choice. The remainder of the £10,000 prize money has gone to runner-up, Nick Cobb of J.F.Cobb & Sons, North Ground Dairy, West Chaldon, Dorchester. The winners received their plaques from Ruth Archer (Felicity Finch) of BBC Radio 4's 'The Archers'. The results, kept secret until the day, were announced at the Dairy Event at the Royal Showground, Stoneleigh Park near Coventry on September 22, 2004.
The winners' veterinary surgeon and milk buyer also attended the event where they were presented with plaques for their contribution in the awards.
The following finalists were all highly commended and presented with a plaque: Chris & Liz Best, Poole Farm, Tetbury; Ifan Jones, Tycerrig Farm, Oswestry; FE & EM Murley & Sons, Higher Bojewyan Farm, Penzance; Staveley & Sons, Throstle Nest Farm, Skipton; Throup & Son, Higher House Farm, Keighley; Andrew Wood, Allerby Mill Farm, Bullgill, Maryport and JR Willis Farm, Mouldworth Hall, Nr Chester.
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Quality Milk Award 2004 winners / page 2
All nine were congratulated on their success on being among the best milk producers in Britain, consistently achieving low somatic cell counts, maintaining herd health in peak condition, and helping to highlight the importance of high standards of cleanliness. This year the judges found the final decision extremely difficult. "They really are all winners. It was extremely difficult choosing between them: they are all good enough to be champions," explained one of the judges, Dr. Anthony H. Andrews, independent veterinary consultant.
A number of the farmers have been using OrbeSeal®, the non-antibiotic dry cow treatment, which is particularly useful for organic farmers such as Chris and Liz Best and Peter Willis of JR Willis Farm. "Drug use is obviously an issue," explains judge and independent veterinary consultant, Mike Thorne, "but they get around that by using OrbeSeal through the dry period."
Excenel™ RTU is another first choice for the farmers who have chosen the antibiotic for the treatment of foot conditions, and particularly appreciate the zero milk withdrawal and how this can be a major benefit in respect of cost and management.
