Glanbia, Teagasc launch dairy plan to capitalise on abolition of quotas

GLANBIA and Teagasc have launched a three-year joint dairy programme to position Glanbia milk suppliers to take advantage of growth opportunities that will arise after abolition of EU milk quotas in 2015.

A team of 28 Teagasc dairy advisers will deliver this joint programme through a network of discussion groups, and through knowledge transfer events like farm walks, seminars, and workshops. Currently, more than 1,700 Glanbia suppliers participate in 114 discussion groups, across 12 counties. Ten new monitor farmers are being established, who will demonstrate best practice and improve technology adoption on farms. These will include both spring-calving and winter-calving liquid milk herds.

The main objectives of the new P415: Preparing for 2015 programme are to increase grass utilisation. increase milk solids production per cow and per hectare, improve herd fertility and calving pattern, and improve cost control.