TWO Dorset dairy farms and another from Herefordshire are in the running for the one of the industry's top awards.

They are among the six finalists for this year's Gold Cup, organised by the Royal Association of British Dairy farmers and milk recording agency NMR.

First up is Peter Jack who farms in partnership with his wife Margaret at Normandy Farm, which is locatednear Blandford Forum.

His 197-cow pedigree herd averaged 10,951kg of milk at 4.18 per cent fat and 3.09 per cent protein for the recording year ended September 2007, on twice-a-day milking. Milk is sold on a Waitrose contract.

Peter has recently completed extensive expansion plans, pushing up herd numbers using home-bred replacements and building cubicle housing facilities for 215 cows.

Meanwhile, Nick Cobb from West Chaldon Farm, near Dorchester, has seen his 700 Holsteins average 11,687kg at 4.05 per cent fat and 3.11 per cent protein for the same 12 months on three-times-a-day milking. His milk is sold through Dairy Crest on a Marks and Spencer contract.

ANOTHER finalist is Henry Lewis from Bromyard. His pedigree Winslow herd has expanded by 100 cows since 2004, pushing cow numbers up to 430. It also recently became a flying herd.

Average yield for the year ending September 2007 is 11,962kg at 3.83 per cent fat and 3.13 per cent protein, from three-times-a-day milking.

The SCC stood at 195,000cells/ml, with a calving interval of 415 days and a replacement rate of 27 per cent. The winner of the Gold Cup will be announced at the Dairy Event at Stoneleigh, on September 17.

For the first time this year, a new award, the Chris May Memorial Trophy – named after the well-known Somerset dairy farmer who died last year – will be made to the qualifying herd with the highest lifetime daily yield.