Tipperary Co-op farmers ‘can boost post-quota milk output by 64%’

Dairy farmers in the Tipperary Co-op region could potentially increase their post-quota milk output by 64% if they optimise their heifer-calving dates and boost grass growth, says Teagasc senior research officer Dr Laurence Shalloo.

At dairy seminar in Dundrum, Co Tipperary, Dr Shalloo said the region’s biggest challenge will be to improve soil quality as just 8% of soil tests showed land at an optimum standard for grass growth. This was just one factor highlighted from analysis of data generated by Tipperary Co-op, Teagasc and the ICBF.

“Before we did the exercise showing a potential for a 64% total increase in milk output, a lot of people might not have believed such huge potential existed,” said Dr Shalloo. “Of course, that is just a potential figure in a scenario where everyone maximises their potential output. One key component will be to ensure that they increase this output in a profitable fashion.

“Teagasc is now putting a programme in place to help farmers in the Tipperary region achieve their potential. Targets areas will be around herd-calving dates, generating more dairy heifers and increasing the productivity of existing pastures.

“The big issue in this region is about getting the soil nutrient status correct through soil testing and following the corresponding recommendations. With 92% of the soil tested deficient in one or more vital elements such as phosphorous, potash or lime, it would be extremely difficult to achieve the targets of increased grass growth. It will take time, but we have to start somewhere and it will come right incrementally.”

Currently there is significant potential to carry higher stocking rates across soil type in the Tipperary region. Targets have been set at stocking rates of 2.8 cows per hectare on dry soils, 2.5 cows/ha on mixed soils, and 2.2 cows/ha on heavy soils.

Dr Shalloo said its research work with Tipperary Co-op will offer useful guidelines to other processors, but he added that each region will have its own particular set of unique circumstances. As such, Teagasc will have to develop tailored plans for each region based on soil type and current restrictions on farm.

For instance, Tipperary’s milk yields are close to the national average of around 1,000 gallons (or 4,500 litres) per cow, with around 300L being fed to calves.

However, Tipperary’s milking platform of 0.77 per acre is above the 0.66 national average. In Tipperary, these outside parcels are currently being used to rear young stock, beef or to generate silage, but they could be used to supplement the milking platform itself. This may not be true of every other region.

Teagasc is also advising the Tipp Co-op region to focus on calving date and calving compactness and bringing the herd mean calving date forward from the present mid-March back to between the middle and late February.

That would increase profitability and would help increase output per cow with simulations suggesting 400L per cow.

“Tipperary is similar to the national average in relation to herd mean calving date (March 10), but the target in a post-quota environment is earlier. The region has been doing exactly what was required during the quota era, but they can now look ahead to a different approach.

“Often, when people hear this advice, they tend to think you have to start calving earlier, but what they really have to do is to tidy up the tail end. We’re talking about reducing the tail end from 30% calving after April 1st to not more than 10%.”

Tipperary also has considerable potential to boost its post-quota replacement heifer numbers.