Keating Family Strike Gold for SCC

John and Yvonne Keating from Crobally, Old Parish Co Waterford were delighted to receive the Category Award for SCC on Wednesday at the National Dairy Council Ornua 2018 Quality Milk Awards.

Speaking after the event John noted ‘being nominated for the award has been a great experience for the family and especially for our girls to see another side of farming.
SCC is something we work at hard every single day on farm and it is not always easy and so we have been absolutely delighted to be recognised for that’.

Background

The Keatings’ family farm initially started with 10 cows in 1914 and now John milks 160 cows.

His wife Yvonne and children Chloe and Aimee and mother Cait are all actively involved in the day to day running of the farm and it is very much a farm where their family life revolves around the farm.

Production summary

In 2017 they supplied 810,589 litres to Glanbia Ireland, with Av TBC 7.5, Av SCC 61, Butterfat 3.98%, Protein 3.55%.

Their farm is situated right next to the cliff edge and has seen varying weather this year – from being buried under snow drifts in spring time, to severe drought conditions which coincided with when the NDC judges visited.

Tom Barron is from Ring and works full time with John on the farm together with Daniel Power and Seamus Healy who assist at weekends.

Sustainable farming

The focus on their farm at all times is to have healthy cows, and to work and farm the land in a sustainable fashion.

Johns’ farm is unique, in that his total farm is captured in a “Tearmann Sanctuary” and is home to a vast variety of birdlife including a rare Irish bird known as the chough.
It is a haven for Bird watch Ireland and also avid bird enthusiasts. Alongside this there is 20 acres of forestry which brings its’ own diversity.

Mastitis control

This is one of the key areas that is focused on by John and Tom daily. And this dedication resulted in them having the lowest SCC in the NDC finalist group.

John notes that ‘watching cows coming in at milking time is key in my system – are they slower, falling behind etc. end of milking’.

He reviews bulk milk SCC every single day and milk records and then acts on those results.

‘My system is simple really – all suspect or troubled cows are milked separately and last. If cows are found to be not responsive to treatment they are removed from herd which eliminates the risk of cross transfer’.

Glanbia

Glanbia Chairman Martin Keane, who attended the Award ceremony, congratulated John on behalf of the Board and Management of Glanbia Ireland and said that he was ‘delighted to see family farming represented so well at the awards by the Keatings’ and all the nominees.

Family farming, hardwork and passion is what underpins everything that the consumers value in dairy products and its nice to see this recognised at this level’.

MC at the NDC Awards Damien O’Reilly, RTE CountryWide pictured with the Keating Family and guests
Back row (l – r) Paul Power (Glanbia Agribusiness) Seamus Healy, Tom Barron
Front row (l-r) Tomas O’Curraoin, Cait Keating, Aimee, Yvonne, Chloe and John Keating, Damien O’Reilly, Pat Nugent

First Published 8 October 2018