Teagasc has produced a dairy infrastructure workbook in conjunction with Ulster Bank that aims to “allow farmers to assess their own infrastructure, identify deficits and successfully plan for improvements in grazing infrastructure, milk practices and energy use".

The workbook states it is very important that any issues found on farm need to be prioritised based on time scales, cost and stage of business development and the availability of farm finance.

The head of Teagasc animal and grassland research Dr Pat Dillon stated that “improvements are vital to maximise grass production and utilisation, especially in the midst of the grazing season to ensure sustainable milk production and efficiency across farms are achieved".

Current Issues on dairy farms

There are a number of issues regarding grazing infrastructure across all farms, usually caused by herd expansion which has not been matched by roadway or milking parlour improvement.

These issues combined with grassland management and utilisation have a knock-on effect on animal health, especially throughout periods of challenging weather conditions.

A well-designed, carefully built and properly maintained roadway system has many benefits

Grazing infrastructure may be classified as a minor problem but improved grassland management is dependent upon robust grazing infrastructure. The workbook states it is vital that farmers acknowledge that poor grazing infrastructure has a detrimental effect on herd health and performance.

Ultimately maximum performance from the herd cannot be achieved unless the correct grazing infrastructure is in place on farm.

Benefits of improving dairy infrastructure

According to Pat Tuohy of Teagasc: “A well-designed, carefully built and properly maintained roadway system has many benefits including reduced instances of lameness, mastitis, improved animal health, higher-quality milk, less maintenance and more efficient paddock use.”

Milking procedures and energy usage on farm also needs to be considered as they can be optimised for increased labour efficiency, better milk quality and welfare. Energy use can also be optimised to facilitate effective cost control and efficiency on farm.

Making these improvements on farm are vital to ensure maximum efficiency on farm. Dairy farm infrastructure and all factors surrounding it are vital to ensure farmers across the country can achieve their ambitions.

You can find the workbook by clicking here.

Read more

Moorepark Open Day: Grazing Management Village

Moorepark 2019: the blueprint for future expansion