Award-Winning Thurles Dairy Farm Showcases Excellence in Milk Quality
The Ryan family, owners of a dairy farm in Lisheen near Thurles, Co. Tipperary, recently hosted a large group of farmers to showcase their award-winning practices in milk quality. The event was organized by Centenary Thurles Co-op, the National Dairy Council (NDC), Teagasc, and Ornua, and took place on June 24, 2025. The Ryans had won the 2025 NDC and Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards for their outstanding performance in various aspects of dairy farming, including milk quality, animal welfare, environmental sustainability, and grassland management.
The farm, managed by Tom and Mary Ryan along with their son Michael, is home to 158 black-and-white pedigree registered cows. In 2025, the farm achieved an average of 548kgs of milk solids. The cows currently produce an average of 25.89L of milk with 4.25% fat and 3.6% protein content, maintaining a Somatic Cell Count (SCC) of 70,000 cells/ml. The herd's Economic Breeding Index (EBI) is €161, with promising improvements expected as newer calves have higher EBI values.
The Ryans' farm is a 56-hectare milking block stocked at 2.8 livestock units per hectare, growing 12.62 tonnes of dry matter per hectare annually. The farm maintains optimal soil fertility, with all paddocks at a pH of 6.5 or higher. Furthermore, 90% of the land is in index three or four for Phosphorus, and 61% for Potassium. The farm achieved a 365-day calving interval in 2025, with 93% of the herd calving within six weeks.
Significant infrastructure developments have been made since 2018, including the installation of a 20-unit swing-over Pearson parlour, new cubicles in 2020, a silage pit in 2023, and a 930m³ slurry storage tank in 2025. Emma Walls, CEO of NDC, emphasized the importance of the event in promoting Irish dairy farming and its authentic and inspiring practices.
The farm walk provided attendees with insights into the Ryans' successful dairy operations and the opportunity to connect with the broader agricultural community. The NDC is currently evaluating 12 finalists for the 2026 milk quality awards, continuing their mission to highlight excellence in the dairy industry.
