Crème de la crème of Limerick dairy farming industry honoured

THREE Limerick winners were announced at the second National Dairy Awards in the Midlands Park Hotel in Portlaoise.

Marie Louise Ryan was crowned Norbrook Dairy Vet of the Year, while John Hanrahan and Louise Crowley won the MSD Animal Health Tech Innovator Dairy Farmer of the Year and the Green Acre Marketing Dairy Social Media Ambassador of the Year respectively.

The entry of Marie-Louise Ryan (pictured above), of Mulcair Vets, was based on improving animal health along with improving productivity and farm-profitability for farmers by focusing on reducing antibiotic usage on farms, carrying out selective dry cow therapy and reducing involuntary culling by improving fertility through submission rates and pre-breeding work.

Judges said: “It was an excellent application, demonstrating a high level understanding of challenges facing farmers on a wide range of aspects and clearly committed to a holistic approach to herd health and farm performance. Really liked the emphasis placed on social aspect of being a vet - developing and maintaining relationships and really understanding the social situation and drivers for each farmer.”

John Hanrahan, winner of the MSD Animal Health Tech Innovator Dairy Farmer of the year, farms alongside his daughter Natasha on their dairy farm in Granagh. His award was accepted by Brian Griffin (pictured below).

They have been heavily dependent on skilled labour which has become increasingly difficult to source. Therefore, he has invested heavily in the farm with an emphasis on investing in technologies which improve efficiencies and productivity on the farm.

Louise Crowley farms in Croom with her dad John and is also Limerick IFA secretary. She uses her social media profile to show how dairy farmers produce top quality food, why there is a need to show the general public about farming and advocating policy makers to understand the importance of farmers to the country.

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Judges said of her entry: “Louise is a really positive advocate for the dairy industry, showing the challenges right across the sector along with the positives. Louise uses her profile for the good of the industry and demonstrates her knowledge in a really informative manner.”

A total of 21 awards were presented on the night celebrating the high achievers that continue to develop and strengthen the Irish dairy industry.

The judging process comprised a panel of 12 dairy experts.