A total of 500 dairy farm families will be recognised for their commitment to herd health at the annual CellCheck milking for quality awards next month.

The awards recognise the excellence achieved by Irish dairy farmers in herd health, specifically those that achieve a consistently low somatic cell count (SCC).

The award-winning farmers will be recognised at a ceremony on 27 November.

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Guests of honour at this year’s events are Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon and CEO of Coole Swan Mary Sadlier.

Sadlier will give insights into how she forged her career and why Irish dairy is central to the global Coole Swan success story.

Awareness

The CellCheck programme, co-ordinated by Animal Health Ireland (AHI), works with dairy farmers, co-ops, vets and all of industry to increase the awareness and capacity to manage and prevent mastitis in Irish herds.

The programme seeks to achieve a healthier and more productive herd, which contributes to increased efficiency and profitability on farms.

Since the inception of the CellCheck programme, the national average bulk tank SCC has reduced by almost 100,000 cells/ml, to an average of 173,000 cells/ml in 2024.

This improvement in udder health in the national herd is helping to reduce antimicrobial usage, improve farm profitability and contribute towards reducing agri emissions.

World class

Commenting on the awards, AHI chair James Lynch said Irish dairy farmers are world-class food producers and the CellCheck programme has supported them on the journey of improved herd health, reduced SCC and the continued application of selective dry cow therapy.

CellCheck programme manager Finola McCoy said: “This year’s award recipients exemplify how excellence in dairy farming begins with getting the fundamentals right. Their commitment to herd health and maintaining exceptionally low somatic cell counts highlights what can be achieved through good management practice and attention to detail.”

FBD Trust chair Michael Berkery said the work of the CellCheck programme is evident in improving the quality of Irish milk, while also boosting savings for farmers.