Cork dairy cow crowned finest in land at Virginia

A father and son team from County Cork have won the 2011 Baileys Irish Champion Competition which took place at the Virginia Agricultural Show in County Cavan on Saturday, July 30. Dalevalle OT1 J Lulu, is a six year old cow owned by Eugene and Sean Murphy from Waterfall, that beat 24 other bovine beauties from across the four provinces. The competition recognises good body conformation with proven excellence in milk production and it is the first time that the Murphy family has won this prestigious competition which dates back to 1983. Their success moves Cork up the winner's league table, second only to Co Dublin for the number of times the county has won the top title. Dalevalle OT1 J Lulu has had four calves and produced 12,007 kgs of milk in her last lactation (approximately 2,500 gallons.) She was bred in Donegal in the Dale Valley herd, owned by Roy Cromie and was purchased by the Murphy's as a heifer-in-milk. She is the daughter of sire, Astronomical and dam Dale Valley Cousteau Lulu. She adds the title of Baileys Irish Champion to her recent success at the Cork Show. Commenting on his selection, competition judge, Iwan Morgan from Wales said: "It has been an ambition of mine to follow in my father's footsteps and judge this competition. "All the cows here today were remarkable but the sheer power and capacity of the winner and in particular that incredible udder gave her the edge."