The competition, which is sponsored by John Thompson and Sons Limited, took place along side the YFCU annual portfolio of Dairy Stock judging at a series of County heats. This year the YFCU took the decision to run these in the evening time and this decision paid off as 427 members took part in the event compared with 368 in 2007.
Mr. Hugh McCluggage from John Thompson and Sons Limited launched the contest by giving a short introduction to the subject of silage assessment and providing some indicators about the silage being considered. Each competitor was then given a limited time frame of just ten minutes to place two silage samples A and B on Digestibility, Fermentation and Dry Matter Content.
Hugh attended the County heats and commented on the increase in numbers of members taking part in this year's competition.
"We are delighted to sponsor the YFCU Silage Assessment Competition as it gives members the chance to build on skills that they will use in their farming careers," said Hugh.
"The competition is always a popular one and to have experienced an increase of participation of 16% is really remarkable. This means that more of our rural youth will have gained skills in this area, which is very important," he added.
The top four competitors of each group will be invited to attend the final which will take place in July.
The results of the competition were as follows: o Co Antrim
12-14 Years
1st Colin Fleck Glarryford 95
2nd Conor Wilkinson Crumlin 93
3rd Janie Kinnear Straid 92
4th Kathryn McKeown Glarryford jnr
14-16 Years
1st David Maybin Lisnamurrican 97
2nd Jonathan McMullan MOycraig 96
3rd Ian Currie Kells and Connor 95.5
3rd Andrew Douds Glarryford jnr 95.5
3rd Sam Currie Straid 95.5
3rd Danielle Moore Finvoy 95.5
3rd Charlotte Taylor FInvoy 95.5
16-18 Years
1st Peter Boyd Straid 95.5
2nd Trevor MCClintock Striad 95
3rd Christopher Buchanan Crumlin 91
4th Philip Dickey Glarryford 90.5
18-21 Years
1st David Dnlop Finvoy 96
2nd Melanie mcClean Holestone 95
2nd William Clark Rathmore 95
4th Neil Hunter Holestone 94
4th Andrew Boyd Striad 94
21-25 Years
1st Rosalind Ellis Kells and Connor 95.5
2nd matthew Warwick Holestone 94
3rd James Dennison Rathmore 93
3rd Caroline Sherrard Lylehill 93

o County Armagh
18-21 Years
1st Sharon Reid Collone 97
2nd Gillian Graham Collone 96
3rd Richard Boes Bleary 85
4th Nicola Harrison Bleary 78
4th Suzanne Halliday Bleary 78

o County Down
12-14 Years
1stDAniel Patton Newtownards 95
2nd Jenny Martin Ballywalter Jnr 94
3rd Aaron Connolly Moneyrea 93
4th Sam Martin Ballywalter Jnr 91.5
14-16 Years
1st Matthew Connolly MOneyrea 96
2nd Stuart Allister Annaclone 95
3rd David Simpson Killinchy 94.5
4th Madeline Crompton Killinchy 93
4th Peter Verhoeven Annaclone 93
16-18 Years
1st Aaron Craig Annaclone 96
2nd David Simpson Hillhall 93
2nd Rachael Barr Moneyrea 93
4th Jocelyn Orr Spa 90
4th John Porter Annaclone 90
4th Robert Whitten Hillhall 90
18-21 Years
1st Nelson Shanks Annaclone 96
2nd Stephen Cowan Annaclone 95
3rd Ian Porter Annaclone 93
4th Megan Hamill Donaghadee 92
4th Robin Thompson Annaclone 92
21-25 Years
1st Andrew Cowan Annaclone 97
2nd Pamela Cardy Ballymiscaw 96
3rd Richard McFarlane Ballymiscaw 95
4th Stephen Speers Ballymiscaw 93

o County Fermanagh
12-14 Years
1st Alice Stubbs Kesh 74
14-16 Years
1st Zara Stubbs Kesh 84
2nd Matthew Dunne Kesh 79
16-18 Years
1st Gillian Henderson Kesh 95
2nd Gail Thompson Kesh 94
3rd Donna Beacom 90
4th James Vance Kesh 86.5
18-21 Years
1st Darren Farrell Kesh 79
21-25 Years
1st Beverly Henderson Kesh 96
2nd Clive Henderson Kesh 88

o County Londonderry
12-14 Years
1st Jason Henderson Dungiven 94
2nd Ryan Adams Coleraine 93
2nd Claire Hill Dungiven 93
4th Sam Patterson Dungiven 91
4th David Reid Coleraine 91
4th Carol Semple Dungiven 91
14-16 Years
1st Scott Mcneill Garvagh 94
1st Andrew Laughlin Kilrea 94
3rd Steven Gordon Kilrea 93
3rd Chantelle Murdoch Coleraine 93
3rd Samantha Mairs Coleraine 93
16-18 Years
1st Ian Lindsay Moneymore 95
2nd Hilary Cameron Coleraine 94
2nd Andrew Torrens Garvagh 94
4th Laura Buchannan Dungiven 92
18-21 Years
1st Philip Henry Coleraine 93
2nd David Hall Coleraine 90
3rd Ayleen Millen Coleraine 89
4th Hugh Harbison Coelraine 87.5
21-25 Years
1st Greame Parke City of Derry 92
1st Philip Keatley Moneymore 92
3rd William Hazlett Garvagh 91
4th Barbara McFetridge Garvagh 89

o County Tyrone
12-14 Years
1st Glenn Armstrong Seskinore 94.5
2nd Matthew Shortt Seskinore 94.5
3rd Bryan McKinley Trillick 94
4th Lyndsay Hawkes Seskinore 93
14-16 Years
1st Harry Gibson Seskinore 94.5
2nd Roslyn Armstrong Seskinore 94
2nd Nicola Armstrong Seskinore 94
4th Maurice Hamilton Cookstown 93
16-18 Years
1st Laura McKinley Trillick 96
2nd James Warnock Newtownstewart 93
3rd Mark Lyttle Cookstown 91
4th Ian Armstrong Clanabogan 90
18-21 Years
1st James Alcorn Clanabogan 94
1st John Watters Cookstown 94
3rd Stuart Lyons Seskinore 93
3rd Samuel Mayn e Cookstown 93
21-25 Years
1st Richard Alcorn Clanabogan 94
2nd Anne Coulter Strabane 87
3rd Andrew Barrett Trillick 76
The YFCU would like to extend a note of thanks to Mr. Hugh McCluggage and Mr. Richard Moore from John Thompson and Sons Limited for taking the time out of their busy schedule to act as judges at each of the County heats and assisting with this year's competition.