Entries are now open for the 2022 NMR RABDF Gold Cup competition. This top national award looks to highlight dairy businesses for all-around excellence.  

The award is organised by RABDF and sponsored NMR. It was first launched in 1920 and has been won by some of the country's most influential dairy farmers.  

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Dairy businesses can enter either through their milk recording organisation, where they must meet minimum herd size, production, and health criteria, or by being nominated by consultants, discussion groups or companies that support their business.  

The Gold Cup is open to all herd management systems, including block calving herds, grazing herds, and housed herds. All entrants must demonstrate high standards of herd health, fertility and business management.  

How to enter 

All herds with official milk records who meet the qualifying criteria have been notified and invited to enter.  

Qualifying and nominated herds can complete a comprehensive entry form for consideration by the 2022 Gold Cup judges. A short list is drawn up for visiting by the judges in late summer 2022, before the 2022 winner is announced at Dairy-Tech in February 2023. 

When entering, producers must demonstrate through their official milk records milk production, somatic cell count and genetic merit data and for spring calving herds, their spring calving index.  

Applications must be sent electronically to romanymarshall@rabdf.co.uk by July 29, 2022. 

Qualifying criteria for milk recorded herds is based on the 12 months to September 2021: 

• More than 100 cows/heifers with qualifying lactations in the milking herd 
• Annual somatic cell count average of 200,000/ml or less, or 250,000/ml for organic herds 
• Minimum £PLI value specific to the breed 
• Minimum £SCI value specific to the breed 

As well as the Gold Cup, awards are also made to the highest ranked Holstein Jersey and other breed herds qualifying for the Gold Cup.  The Chris May Memorial Award is presented to the herd with the highest Lifetime Daily Yield from all Gold Cup qualifying herds.  

More details about the award and how to enter can be found at https://www.rabdf.co.uk/gold-cup-comp 

To register for your free place to attend this year's Gold Cup Open Day on July 5 at Albyns Farm, Essex, by kind permission of the 2020 Gold Cup winners, the Torrance family, please visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/326280793637