Rumours regarding the proposed construction of a “super dairy farm” in Tipperary are continuing to grow. However, while plans for the unit continue to develop, concerns from the local farming community are escalating.

The Irish Farmers Journal has learned that considerable work is going on behind the scenes with regard to the construction of the unit. While no planning permission application has officially been lodged, those working on the unit have been examining the environmental aspects to the proposal.

The unit is believed to be planned for the Cashel area of south Tipperary.

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A prominent Tipperary dairy farmer said that there are concerns among the farming community over the impact that such an intensive unit could have on the current green image of Irish dairy farming. The unit is believed to be based on confinement setups across the world, with high-yielding cows kept indoors in a single unit working with local tillage farmers on a feed in, slurry out basis.

Sources believe that farm in Tipperary would be looking at holding between 2,000 and 3,000 cows.