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Monitor farms involved in a joint programme between Kerry Agribusiness and Teagasc have seen an average improvement of 5.5c/l in their milk composition over the 25 years it has run.
For a supplier delivering 300,000l this improvement has been worth €16,500 per annum. To date, over 76 farms across counties Kerry, north Cork, Limerick and Clare have participated in the programme.
In celebrating its success after 25 years, the partners involved have cited the collaboration between farmers, industry, advisors and researchers as the key to success.
In addition to enhanced milk composition, there have also been gains in herd genetics, nutrient and grazing management coupled with improvements in animal welfare and environmental management.
Benefits
According to Teagasc the extended grazing and improvement in dairy EBI equates to a significant reduction in carbon emissions with the increase in the average EBI on monitor farms equivalent to €350/cow additional profit.
Commenting on the programme, Pat Murphy, head of Kerry Agribusiness said: “Tremendous progress had been made by the participating monitor farmers and by all dairy farmers in the Kerry catchment area over the past 25 years.
“The focus on increasing milk solids, extending the grazing season and utilising as much grass as possible, herd health and sustainable expansion had made dairy farming much more profitable and environmentally compliant in recent years.”
Sustainability
Murphy stated that dairy sustainability would be a focus in the coming years that the monitor farms could facilitate.
Teagasc director Gerry Boyle said the level of teamwork displayed in the programme would be needed to meet the challenges facing dairy farmers into the future.
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