WICKLOW dairy farmers Darren and Kalinda Healy have been crowned cream of the crop after winning the inaugural VetPartners Ireland Sustainable Farmer of the Year Award.
The couple, who milk 300 cows at Oakwood Farm Ltd at Ballydonnell near Redcross, were nominated for the award by Avondale Vets practice manager Jenna Jackson and Rathdrum farm branch manager Mairead Nolan.
The award, run by the VetPartners Ireland group, was launched to celebrate farmers who have worked with their vets to improve business and/or environmental sustainability.
A public vote was held to choose the winner of the award, with the Healys being recognised for their efforts to improve the sustainability of their herd by implementing a preventative approach to herd health.
This has included participation in various animal health programmes through the Targeted Advisory Service on Animal Health (TASAH) – CellCheck for mastitis control, and the Johne’s disease prevention programme.
Jenna said: “Darren and Kalinda are very worthy winners of this new award. This is a farm team who have worked closely with Avondale to develop a herd health plan, which includes a detailed herd vaccination programme and targeted probiotic treatment plans for youngstock. This has helped substantially reduce antibiotic usage in the herd.
“This forward-thinking approach to herd health has resulted in very few sick animals requiring veterinary treatment.”
Speaking after winning the award, Darren said: “We were delighted to hear that Avondale Vets nominated us – it’s fantastic to win the first ever VetPartners Ireland Sustainable Farmer of the Year Award.
“We are proud that our work to improve herd health – and ultimately the sustainability of our herd – has been recognised.”
Kalinda added: “The team at Avondale are equal winners in this award. It would not be possible to do what we do, in the way we do it, without the professional and practical support we receive from them.”
The runner-up prize was awarded to County Cavan beef farmer Jane Shackleton, who was nominated by vet Ciaran Mellett from Smith & Foley Vets in Kells, County Meath.
A third-generation farmer, Ms Shackleton runs organic suckler beef enterprise, Lakeview Organic farm, Mullagh.
A Farming for Nature ambassador farm, she was nominated for the award in recognition of work to improve overall herd welfare, efforts to rotationally graze her cattle to minimise worm burdens, and participation in numerous local ecological development projects.
Commenting on the winners, VetPartners farm director Ian Cure said: “The work of these farmers and their teams is testament to the importance of a collaborative approach between farmers and vets, and the positive impact it can have on livestock welfare and farm productivity.
“With input costs so high, it’s great to be able to highlight ways they can increase business viability and improve welfare through making their business operations more sustainable.”