Innovative Offaly company wins big at National Dairy Awards

Offaly duo Alan O’Donovan and Jack Pilkington of Agri Data Analytics claimed the Carbery Dairy Innovation Recognition Award at the second National Dairy Awards on Thursday night in the Midlands Park Hotel in Portlaoise.

The company beat stiff competition beat opposition from Nesty and DLF to claim the award. Former minister and broadcaster, Ivan Yates served as MC for the night.

Agri Data Analytics, co-founded by Jack Pilkington and Alan O’Donovan, developed the Bovine Breathalyser to measure methane and CO2 emissions from cattle. This non-invasive device captures breath samples while cattle eat from an integrating feeding system, providing accurate data without disturbing the animals. Judges said: “It was a very innovative approach to a very topical issue in Irish and global agriculture.”

A total of 21 awards were presented on the night celebrating the high achievers that continue to develop and strengthen the Irish dairy industry. Other noteworthy winners on the night included Mary Kinston who brought home both the Grassland Agro Best Dairy Advisor of the year award and the AXA Overall National Dairy Award Winner, presented by Ivan Yates and Christy Doherty, AXA respectively. Professor Donagh Berry won the Agri Insider Dairy Leader of the year award on the night which was presented by Jason Webb, Content Director, Agri Insider. Dinny Galvin won the Local Power Best Dairy Sustainability Driver, presented by Pat Smith, Managing Director, Local Power Ltd.