A DAIRY cow which produced nearly 18 tonnes of milk in just over 300 days has won its owners the top yield prize in the third annual Cumbria Milk Records competition.

Lowhouse Sprite Torch, owned by BE and JC Harrison, of Low House Farm, Armathwaite, near Carlisle, took the Highest Yield trophy at the awards night after giving 17,836 kg of milk in her latest 305 day lactation.

Meanwhile, the Harrison and Hetherington Perpetual Cup, awarded for particularly notable achievements in milk hygeine and butter fat content, went to KJ and CS Wilson, whose herd of Holsteins is kept at Wood Farm, Thursby, near Carlisle.

Thirty-four awards were given in various categories, intended to recognise farmers’ achievements in terms of milk volume, constituents and quality standards.

More than 130 industry figures from across Cumbria herded to the Roundthorn Hotel, Penrith, for the event and the prizes were presented by Liz Philip of Newton Rigg College.

A full list of results are available via the National Milk Records website, nmr.co.uk/news