2012 Baileys Irish Champion Dairy Cow Competition
The 2012 Baileys® Irish Champion Dairy Cow Competition is now open
for entries with a prize fund of €9,000. Pedigree Holstein Friesian breeders across
the island of Ireland are invited to compete at the Virginia Show Co. Cavan on the
new date of Wednesday, 22 August for the top title of ‘Baileys Champion Cow’ a
prize cheque for €2,000 and the Virginia Milk Products trophy. €650 will be awarded
to the breeder of the ‘Reserve Champion’. Best Heifer in Milk prize fund €1,700. 1st
place attracts a prize of €500, 2nd place will be awarded €300, and €200 will go to
3rd place. In addition, €100 will be awarded to entrants from 4th to 10th place
inclusively. Trophies will be presented for Highest Protein Content, Best EBI and
Best Exhibitor-Bred Cow.
Speaking at the launch held in Dublin recently, Alan Quane, Commercial Director of
R&A Bailey & Co, said: “The long-running success of the Baileys Irish Champion Dairy
Cow Competition is down to strong partnerships with our cream supplier, Glanbia, and
the Holstein Friesian breeders in Ireland as well as with the Virginia Show
committee. Spanning almost three decades now, the competition has become part of
Baileys Irish heritage. Internationally, it underpins the quality of its primary raw
ingredient – fresh Irish dairy cream.”
Martin Tynan, who is General Manager of Glanbia Ingredients Virginia added, “The
Baileys is the most prestigious competition of its kind in Ireland and consistently
attracts the finest Holstein Friesian cows. The special awards for Best Protein and
EBI emphasis important factors in milk production.”
To enter the competition, cows must first have produced 500kgs of butterfat and
protein in a 305 day lactation (except for the heifer in milk awards). A 10% extra
weighting is being given to the protein portion of the entry standard. Entrants are
required to complete an entry form and for further details contact Brendan Smyth,
Competition Director on ++ 353 (0)87 2560952 or bsmyth@glanbia.ie
Baileys is the world’s No 1 selling liqueur brand and the 9th premium spirit brand
in the world. It is the Gold Medal record holder for cream liqueurs at the
prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Alongside Diageo’s other iconic
Irish drink brands, Guinness and Bushmills, it is a key contributor to the Irish
rural economy as the largest buyer of dairy products outside of the dairy co-ops.
The vast majority of Diageo’s production in Ireland is for the export market. In
2011, 70% of Guinness and 90% of Baileys was exported. The value to the rural
economy of Diageo’s input purchases alone is estimated at €274 million1 ENDS
