February 25, 2010

Ireland eyes global dairy market

 
Ireland's dairy industry is aiming to quadruple milk production and become a major player on the world market.

The increase is expected due to an easing of European regulations on milk supply and large numbers beef farmers switching to dairy.

Former chairman of Lakeland Dairy Co-operative, Mike Magan, said the extra production will all be exported. "The opportunity is certainly there to double or treble and maybe even quadruple the amount of milk that Ireland produces," he said.

Magan added, "It will definitely reduce the amount of low margin beef cattle and replace them with higher margin dairy cattle.

Meanwhile, the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) has urged meat factories to increase cattle prices in line with returns from Ireland's main export markets as current loss-making prices were shrinking financials of winter finishers.