November 27, 2007

 

New rearing systems may add profit for Irish dairy farmers

 

 

Dairy farmers in Ireland could make an additional 1,800 euros per hectare by changing their management systems, claims a Teagasc (Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority) specialist. 

 

Brendan Horan told the national dairy conference in Kilkenny that most farmers substantially underestimated the potential for profit expansion from their holdings.

 

He said milk producers should adopt a new mindset and quantify the return from their herds on a per hectare basis, rather than looking solely at profit per cow.

 

Horan, who is based in Moorepark, claimed that farmers could significantly increase profits by increasing stocking rates, adopting earlier calving and better breeding programmes, and by improving grassland management.

 

The Teagasc specialist said raising stocking rates and replacing non-profit making dry stock, had the potential to increase on-farm profit by 800 euro to 1,000 euros per hectare. He pointed out that Moorepark studies had shown that increasing stocking rates by 2.5 cows/ha to 2.7 cows/ha had resulted in a reduction in the milk yield/cow from 4,717kg to 4,611kg.

 

However, production/ha had increased from 11,651 kilograms (kg) to 12,678kg.

 

The improved utilisation of grass cover, which flows from higher stocking rates, brings further returns, Horan added.

 

Similarly, profit increases of more than 300 euros/ha had been achieved in Moorepark trials, where the mean calving date was moved from March 16 to February 10, he said.

 

In terms of the herd make-up, Horan stated farmers could raise their profit margins by breeding cows with good fertility and high milk solids, rather than looking simply at milk yield.

 

He said recent research had shown the benefit in terms of returns of crossbreeding Jerseys and Friesians.