WESTERN Victorian dairy farms have again dominated in the 2023 Milk Quality Awards, taking out almost half of the national awards on offer.

Since 2002, these awards have celebrated farmers who have produced the country’s best milk, based on Bulk Milk Cell Count (BMCC) data provided by processors each financial year.

The 100 farmers with the lowest annual BMCCs are presented with a gold diamond plaque for their farmgate, while the other farms within the lowest five per cent of BMCCs receive a silver diamond.

Across the WestVic region, 47 gold plaques were handed out, and 37 silver plaques were added to dairy walls and farm gates.

Dairy farmers Paul and Karen Finlayson from Jancourt East, Western Vic were again recognised for their high-quality milk production, receiving a gold plaque from the 2023 Australian Milk Quality Awards.

Paul and Karen have a long history of exceptional milk quality. They have received a plaque each year since the Milk Quality Awards were established in 2002 – adding to their collection of other awards received over eight years prior to then.

The Finlaysons calve from April to June and have a herd of 80 cows, with their milk supply going to Bulla Dairy Foods. It is a dryland farm, and Paul is humble when he says it’s nothing special at all.

“I’m just trying to look after cows as best I can,” he says.

Paul’s focus has been on the breeding side of the herd, which is Friesian stud. He has been trying to improve overall type and production – and it is paying off.

“I’ve really tried to improve the cows’ udders through breeding, which is showing now. Cows can have big swinging udders, and now they’re all tucked up nice and tight. This is good in the wintertime as they’re not dragging them around in mud and around their legs, so they walk comfortably,” Paul says.

A lifelong dairy farmer, Paul’s calmness and care for the animals is reflected in the dairy and has earned him the nickname ‘the cow whisperer.’

“I’m a big believer in keeping the cows as calm as possible. I don’t put any stress on them at all; I avoid that at all costs,” he says.

Paul says it is good to have hard work recognised through the Milk Quality Awards.

“Winning the awards and getting a pat on the back every now and then is good,” he says.

“I really enjoy what I do – it’s the old saying: if you enjoy what you do, you never a work a day in your life.”

Karen Finlayson is proud of her husband and what he has achieved.

“I don’t keep well so Paul’s not only running the farm, but he’s also helping me around the house and everything – he just does an unreal job,” she says.

The couple has been in a successful supply partnership with Bulla Dairy Foods since September 2019.

Gold winners in the WestVic Dairy region included;         

Abbeydorney Dairies

Alnor Partners

Ballangeich Run

CD Baulch

TJ & CJ Beasley

Bidgemah Trust and V Burleigh & L Davison

AH & VM Bond

JT & AL Burleigh

Claine Farm Trust

BJ & RM Couch

WJ & VL Crole and A & A Crole

Dixie Park – Glennen Family

CA & AL Duro

Farmhouse Dairy Co

PA & KM Finlayson

M & L Gardiner

DG & RS Hallyburton

Willie Hawker Family Trust

RK & LJ Hawtin

PC & SL Hinkley and MD & SA Hinkley

B & D Howard

AJ, JD & JW Kenna

H & O Kilpatrick

AH Lucas

BLG McDowall Farms

GA & J McNamara and N & C McNamara

Madden Dairy P/L

R Morey

RS Nelson

New Life Dairies

CP & MJ Nijskens

PJ O'Bryan & FK O'Bryan

TMJA Parish Family Trust

JA & CM Pouw and A & E Pouw

Ravenshill Farm

I, M & L Seabrook

M & M Seabrook

JN Sloane Sloane Dairying, Farm 2

CW & AM Smart

RJ & EH Swayn

TA Taylor

PW & LN Thornton

FJ, JA & EL Whiteside and SJ & JA Thow

SJ & AE Watson

GL & VM Wickham

Windy Lea Family Trust

Silver winners in the WestVic Dairy region included;

P & M Ackerley

JPG & MM Barake

IJ & CE Brown

SA & RJ Bushell

Carrakoorte North P/L

IC & BF Crabbe

BJ & EJ Darcy

DP & JF Gale

LW & V Farrer

MA & MF Fleming

Fleming Farming Trust

TR & KM Foote

B & M Holloway

M & L Hunt and A & T Hunt

Howe Partnership

BL & GL Justin

A Kavanagh

PJ & LM Kemp

JM Kenny, JR Kenny & PG Kenny

McCarthy & Sons

J & E McVilly

R Martin

BA & CM Mungean

PG & AC Parsons

NL & LJ Pegg

RA & CC Richards

AI & NP Pride

SG & RG Rendell

AJ & NJ Roberts

DL Ryan

ST Scott

Scotts Creek Dairies

Sloane Dairying, Farm 1

TripleJSM P/L

T Uebergang & K Gregory

Wallaby Creek Farm