Milk quota abolition ‘may be beneficial’

THE early abolition of the European Union milk quota may be beneficial to the Irish dairy industry in that it would allow dairy farmers who are eager to expand to do so and possibly facilitate growth in milk production, it was suggested at the Teagasc national dairy conference in Limerick yesterday.

Head of Teagasc dairy production research in Moorepark Dr Pat Dillon said pasture-based dairy farming is the most profitable enterprise when based on efficient conversion of grazed grass into milk.

Allowing for increases in land and labour productivity, dairy farming in Ireland can be the most competitive within the EU, he said.