The Kinisla Milk Quality and Sustainability awards are an opportunity for the southwest dairy processor to honour the suppliers who achieve excellent performance. Each of the five families featured in this series has been handpicked from over 2,600 milk suppliers across the processor’s catchment. The following are the five finalists in the 2026 Kinisla Milk Quality and Sustainabilty awards;
Candidates are screened and identified based on their milk quality results both in terms of somatic cell count (SCC) and total bacterial counts (TBC) and also milk protein and butterfat percent. They are also shortlisted based on their sustainability credentials.
The next step in the process to identify the overall winner is the judges’ visit. This year’s judging panel was made up of Brendan O’Neill from Munster Technological University (MTU), Marianne Nolan and John Murphy from the sustainability and milk quality team at Kinisla, and Aidan Brennan from the Irish Farmers Journal. The judges’ visit is a rigorous process, covering all aspects of farming, not just milk quality and sustainability. It’s an opportunity to delve into other aspects of management of the farm, such as grassland management, animal health protocols, biodiversity management, hygiene, etc.
Pat Murphy, CEO of Kinisla had this to say about the awards: “The Kinisla Milk Quality and Sustainability Awards recognise the commitment, skill and innovation of our milk suppliers who continue to deliver the highest standards of milk quality while embracing sustainable farming practices. The calibre of this year’s finalists highlights the significant progress being made across our supplier base and the strong commitment to continuous improvement, environmental stewardship and farm performance. Our suppliers are at the heart of Kinisla’s success and these awards are an important opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate their achievements.”
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