The Casey family from Causeway, Co. Kerry, has been named the winner of the 2025 Kerry Dairy Ireland Milk Quality and Sustainability Awards, becoming the fifth family to receive this prestigious honour since the awards were established.
John Casey farms alongside his father Michael and wife Orla on a scenic 44-hectare milking platform along the Wild Atlantic Way, where they milk 137 cows. The Casey family impressed judges with their outstanding milk quality, environmental performance and commitment to continuous improvement.
John is focused on optimising daily high-quality grass intake for the herd to support overall performance and productivity. In 2024, the farm achieved 12 tonnes of dry matter per hectare, with the herd delivering 517kg of milk solids per cow. Milk composition was exceptional, with 4.88% fat and 3.88% protein, and a somatic cell count of just 108,000. The farm’s carbon intensity is nearly 20% better than the national average.
Recent investments have focused on enhancing slurry storage capacity to improve nutrient utilisation and expanding feeding space to support animal performance. John also places a strong emphasis on creating a positive work environment and maintaining a healthy work-life balance for everyone involved in the farm.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, James O’Connell, Director of Agribusiness & Sustainability at Kerry Dairy Ireland, praised the Casey family for their dedication to producing high-quality milk with a low environmental footprint. He also acknowledged their active participation in the Evolve programme, which supports suppliers in implementing sustainability measures.
The runner-up in this year’s competition was the Bermingham family from Doonbeg, Co. Clare. Other finalists included the O’Connor family from Currans, Co. Kerry; the Hickey family from Caherconlish, Co. Limerick; and the O’Kelly family from Dromcollogher, Co. Limerick.
Pat Murphy, CEO of Kerry Dairy Ireland, congratulated all participants and highlighted the exceptional work being carried out across the supplier base:
“We are proud to recognise the Casey family for their achievements in milk quality, sustainability and farm succession. Their focus on breeding, grassland management and environmental stewardship reflects the values we hold at Kerry Dairy Ireland. Protecting water quality, ensuring animal welfare and reducing carbon emissions are essential to delivering premium dairy products to our customers.”
The 2025 awards mark another milestone in Kerry Dairy Ireland’s commitment to supporting and celebrating excellence among its milk suppliers.