Cornish herd claims 2025 NMR RABDF Gold Cup award
Paul Broad (centre left) and Irwin Morrow (centre right) © Charlotte Cunningham High genetic merit, business efficiency and strategic management have earned a Cornish farm a top dairy accolade.
Paul Broad and Irwin Morrow of TN Morrow and Partners, Treveale Farm, Ladock, were presented with the NMR RABDF 2025 Gold Cup at Dairy-Tech, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, on 4 February 2026.
It was their eye to the future that helped the family secure the award, said the judges.
The Gold Cup is sponsored by the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF) and National Milk Records (NMR).
Meet the 2025 NMR RABDF Gold Cup finalists
Farm facts: Treveale Farm, Ladock, Cornwall
- 280ha
- 471 cows, 461 followers
- Milk yield 12,362kg at 4.26% fat and 3.44% protein
- Milk from forage 4,082 litres
- Conception rate 30%
- Mastitis rate 21 cases in 100 cows a year
- Milk sold to Arla
Paul and brother-in-law Irwin, who run the dairy unit with Paul’s wife, Wendy (née Morrow), and their sons David and Philip, place great importance on improving soil health, reducing fertiliser inputs and enhancing forage quality.
These support higher milk from forage and a reduced reliance on antibiotics – helping to future-proof the business.
Investment
The pedigree Maymor Holstein herd has more than doubled in size over the past 14 years to 471 milking cows, with 461 youngstock, on the 280ha (692-acre) unit.
The family share responsibility for all aspects of the business, from milking and calf-rearing to planting and harvesting forage.
Over the past decade, they have invested heavily to secure the future of the farm for the next generation. A new dairy unit was completed in 2018, followed by a purpose-built youngstock facility in 2023.
Milk quality
Milk quality is a key focus. Latest figures show a somatic cell count of 112,000/ml and a Bactoscan of 10.
The herd is bovine viral diarrhoea-free, while routine milk screening indicates an exceptionally low Johne’s burden, with an average test value of 2.5.
Breeding policy centres on producing high-genetic merit cows with strong type traits to promote longevity, alongside rearing robust, healthy heifers.
Eligibility
To qualify for the Gold Cup, herds must have more than 100 animals with qualifying lactations in the milking herd, as well as an average somatic cell count of 200,000/ml or less – or 250,000/ml for organic herds.
Herds must also have a minimum profitable lifetime index value specific to the breed, or a minimum spring calving index or autumn calving index value.
The judges for the 2025 award were:
- RABDF chairman and Cumbrian dairy farmer Robert Craig
- RABDF vice chair and dairy farmer Tim Downes
- NMR’s veterinary adviser Dr Karen Bond
- 2023 Gold Cup winner George Brown, Bisterne Estate.