Workbook on dairy farm infrastructure

The guiding principle of good dairy farm infrastructure is that it’s safe, produces quality milk from healthy animals using management practices that are sustainable from an animal welfare, labour, economic and environmental perspective.

At Moorepark ’17, Teagasc published a dairy farm infrastructure handbook. At Moorepark ’19, Teagasc is publishing a workbook on dairy farm infrastructure with the support of Ulster Bank. This workbook is designed to act as an aid in assessing existing dairy farm infrastructure and planning for improvements in the areas of grazing infrastructure, milking practices and energy use.

Dairy farmers Padraig Walshe, Gillian O’Sullivan, David Kerr, Anne Moore and Billy Curtin take part in a special forum on "How attractive is a career in dairy farming?" during the Moorepark 2017 Open Day. \ Donal O’Leary

It should act as a guide through a review process, which can take the form of a walk(s) of the farm/farmyard and discussions regarding the above elements.

A number of issues around grazing infrastructure are generally apparent on all farms.

Many of these issues are relatively minor in their own right, but combine to create difficulties in grassland management and utilisation, animal performance and labour input, particularly in periods of poor weather and difficult grazing conditions.

Similarly, the milking process involves countless interactions between the milker, the milking facilities and the cow and there can be many opportunities for improved labour efficiency, milk quality and welfare of both the milker and the herd if the infrastructure and the process can be optimised.

Energy use

Likewise, energy use needs to be carefully monitored and controlled, and the economics of new technologies assessed to facilitate effective cost control and use efficiency.

Teagasc food research programme

The Teagasc food research programme will have a significant presence at Moorepark ’19. You will have an opportunity to see butter being made with grass-fed milk, and learn about the beneficial effect of grass-fed on the nutritional composition of milk and dairy products. You will get a chance to see how milk composition is determined using in-line near-infra-red technology.

There will be a display demonstrating the vast range of dairy ingredients produced in Ireland, with information on target markets (nationally and internationally) and nutritional value of these ingredients, in addition to a display featuring the latest in drying technologies (for developing dehydrated dairy products for export markets).

Of course in Moorepark, the food research programme always aims to be at the cutting edge, and those attending Moorepark ’19 will be interested to see how digital dairy technologies such as robotics, 3-D printing and virtual reality technologies are applied to the investigation and development of dairy for Ireland. Did you know that the structure of food has a significant bearing on its digestion? Check out this exhibit and discover the science behind this research.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine Michael Creed with Prof Gerry Boyle, director of Teagasc; Kevin Lane, CEO of Ornua and economist and Prof Colm McCarthy take part in a special forum on Brexit and Irish dairying during Moorepark Open Day 2017. \ Donal O’Leary

Something that is always of interest to attendees is the exhibit that features products developed via Teagasc research and specialist commercial services. Call in and try some of these tasty products. These Teagasc services are available to small- and medium-sized enterprises, multinational subsidiaries and food entrepreneurs.

You might be inspired to develop your own food business.

Moorepark ’19 will also feature up-to-date information on the science behind the role of the gut microbiome in maintaining health (for infants, elderly and athletes), and the potential for using health promoting microbes to increase the benefits of a range of foods. There will also be a feature on the health benefits of fermented foods. Food research programme staff will be available to answer questions about all exhibits.

Ornua sponsors the forum tent

Ornua is sponsoring the forum tent. The display of dairy foods this year is going to be much larger than previous years. Ornua will partner with the National Dairy Council to create an outdoor dairy festival feel with a lineup of speakers and interactive activity that showcases the best of Irish dairy. During the day, there will be a number of short farm talks dealing with “dairy alternatives – a threat or trend?”, resilience in dairy farming and the power of collaboration in tackling climate change.

Farm forum

Starting at 3pm, there will be a farm forum on meeting the challenges and opportunities of continued expansion facilitated by Sharon Ní Bheoláin from RTÉ News. The Irish dairy industry is facing a number of key challenges: climate change; water quality; remaining competitive; access to markets; and availability of skilled labour. The panel discussion will include Ciarán Fitzgerald (food economist), and will address the benefit of the dairy industry to the Irish economy including the recent expansion with the abolition of milk quotas; Matt Crowe (director of the office of evidence and assessment in the Environmental Protection Agency) will address challenges in relation to climate change and water quality; Orla Walsh (food dietitian) will address the nutritional benefits of dairy; John Jordan (CEO of Ornua) will address dairy future markets; and west Cork dairy farmers Michael and Marguerite Crowley (dairy farmers) will give the dairy farmers’ view on future expansion. Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine Michael Creed will also contribute to this discussion.

Dairy industry stakeholders

Industry experts from ICBF, AHI, DAFM, Ornua, Bord Bia, NDC, HSA and Agri Aware will be present on the day to discuss individual farmer queries.

Read more

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