An Irish Farmers Journal survey has found that almost 30% of dairy farmers surveyed (three out of every 10) are milking cows OAD this spring in an effort to reduce milk supplies.

With the country set to exceed national milk quota and incur a significant superlevy fine, farmers are doing what they can inside their own farm gate to curb supplies.

We surveyed 170 farmers from all over Ireland in a variety of different systems to establish the extent or otherwise of OAD milking. Over 75% of farmers questioned responded to the survey. Twenty-nine percent responded by saying that they were using OAD milking to reduce milk produced, while 71% were milking twice a day as normal.

This week’s broken weather may result in more farmers switching to OAD milking.

OAD will reduce the draw of reserves from the cow and allow her divert more of the energy she takes in for holding condition score. While milk yield for the season is reduced, the cow should go back in calf quicker for next season.

Volumes of milk fall but higher constituents reduce the overall effect.

There is also a carryover effect when cows return to twice-a-day milking – trial results put the milk solids loss as a result of milking OAD for six weeks on subsequent lactation performance at 12%.