The impending abolition of milk quotas is a game changer with regard to the opportunity cost of year-round milk production, according to Teagasc Liquid Milk speacialist Joe Patton.

Patton was speaking ahead of today's Teagasc liquid milk conference in the Ferrycarrig Hotel, Co Weford. The morning seminar of the conference will look at the economic cost for different models of winter milk production and Northern Ireland's experience of the drivers of feed cost in a quota-free environment. The seminar will be chaired by Tom O’Dwyer, Head of Dairy Knowledge Transfer, Teagasc.

The Teagasc specialist says simple, repeatable dairy farming systems are best placed to exploit growth opportunities post quota, and that liquid milk producers will have to review their future plans in this context.

Two dairy farmers, Glenn Forde, Innishannon, Co Cork and Larry Hannon, Ballitore, Co Kildare will also give their thoughts on the future for winter milk production post 2015.

The afternoon session of the conference is an outdoor practical session at the Teagasc Johnstown Castle winter milk research herd. The session will look at the feeding management for winter milk herds with Aidan Lawless, Johnstown research's herd manager and preventing lameness during the indoor period with Ger Cusack from XL Vets. David Wall and Kay O’Connell from Teagasc will speak about getting soil fertility right while Pat Clarke also from Teagasc will end the session by discussing labour saving for winter milk systems.