Robert & Shirley Shannon, Ballinascarthy, are the last of those shortlisted for the Dairy Farmer of the Year award, sponsored by AIB, in the 2017 West Cork Farming Awards.
ROBERT (pictured) and Shirley Shannon, Droumgarriffe, Ballinascarthy, are highly regarded in dairy farming and breeding circles in West Cork.
Married to Shirley, the couple's herd won this year's prestigious RDS Champion of Champions award, reflecting its high functionality and high index.
It’s also one of the top 20 EBI (Economic Breeding Index) herds in the country along with having many bulls in AI.
The parents of four (Dyane, Claire, Stephen and Sarah) milk 75 cows and supply Lisivaird Co-op along with supplying winter milk to Carbery.
They produce high yields of butter fat and protein from pedigree Holstein Friesian cows as well as having a small number of pedigree jerseys with an operation widely regarded as most impressive.
No stranger to being singled out for awards and recognition, they previously won the Lisavaird Quality Milk Award last year and the overall Carbery Quality Milk Award some 10 years back.
Professor Patrick Wall, speaking at the NDC Quality Milk Awards in which the Shannons were national runners-up, said that the farmers like them ‘are proof you can achieve top quality milk production standards in a way that is compatible with commercial viability.’
• The winner of the Dairy Farmer of the Year award, sponsored by AIB, will be announced at The Southern Star and Celtic Ross Hotel West Cork Farming Awards presentation at 1pm on Sunday, September 24th, at the Celtic Ross Hotel in Rosscarbery.
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