Notice board

This year the competition organiser, the RABDF, has made it easier to enter by streamlining the application form and automating data collection for milk recording herds milk.

That means all herd recording applicants need to do is tell us a bit about their business, and the rest is done automatically. The competition is also open to non-recording herds, with data provided manually.

What are the judges looking for?

The competition is open to entrants who can demonstrate the following:

• Strong herd performance, including high herd health, welfare and fertility
• A profitable business
• Good staff management
• Environmental management
• Building a sustainable dairy business fit for the future

So, whether you are a crossbred grass-based herd, an indoor high input high output herd, a pedigree herd or a spring block calving herd, this competition is open to all.

How to enter

Entry forms can be downloaded at rabdf.co.uk/gold-cup-comp and, once completed, sent to romany.marshhall@rabdf.co.uk.

Industry representatives, such as vets, nutritionists, accountants, foot trimmers etc, can also nominate farms they think are worthy of the Gold Cup title by filling in a nomination form at rabdf.co.uk/gold-cup-comp

The competition is open until Friday 1 August 2023, when the entries will be judged by RABDF's Chairman Di Wastenage, Vice Chair Robert Craig and the 2020 Gold Cup winner John Torrance from Essex. A shortlist of entries will be judged on farm later this year.

The winner will be announced at Dairy-Tech 2024 on 7 February at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire.