EU milk quotas coming to an end

Dairy farmers are hoping they will be able to develop the industry with potential to create jobs, as EU milk quotas come to an end tomorrow.

They have been in place for more than 30 years, imposing limits on the amount of cow's milk each EU country can produce .

Many farmers will now be able to increase herd size and milk production.

Sean O'Leary, chairman of the IFA Dairy Committee, outlined the difference the lifting of quotas will make.

"The main difference is I suppose maybe the size of their herds - most farmers, I suppose the average, size in Ireland would be 62 cows," he said.

"The predictions are that that is going to grow into an excess of 80 cows over the next number of years.

"And there (is) a national target I suppose to increase milk production by 50% by 2020."