07/04/05
A record number of dairy herds have met the stringent criteria
set for entry into the NMR/RABDF Gold Cup 2005. More than 500 herds
in Britain have qualified by having more than 50 cows, an annual
average cell count of 200,000/ml or less and a PIN of at least £20.
“We have invited 525 herds, all with authentic, independent
milk records, to enter this year's Gold Cup,” says
competition Chairman Andrew Chadwick. “We want to encourage
as many as possible to complete the questionnaire and take part.
“For the past two years, since the competition has been
in its present format, it's not necessarily the biggest or
the best in terms of genetics or production that gets into the
list of six finalists. Overriding this is evidence of progress,
good planning and making best use of opportunities for the future,
taking account of the herd, its location and the business set up.”
Entries need to be returned by the end of April and a short list
of herds will be visited by the Gold Cup judges in July. The winner
of the NMR/RABDF Gold Cup will be announced at this year's
Dairy Event at Stoneleigh in September.
Gold Cup judges for 2005 are Chairman Andrew Chadwick, RABDF Council
member and dairy farmer from Cheshire Tim Dobson, NMR Chairman
and dairy farmer from the West Midlands Philip Kirkham, and FWAG
product director Richard Knight.
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