Teagasc focus on cost control at open day
Experts from Teagasc Moorepark Research Centre will be on hand at Curtin’s farm to speak on a wide range of topics.
These will range from setting the financial targets for tomorrow’s dairy farmers to achieving a compact calving pattern and developing grazing management strategies to make more profit from grass.
Establishing the facts regarding once a day milking will also be a focus of the day, during which new research information relating to the use of high EBI sires to breed future replacements will be outlined.
Dr Pat Dillon, Head of Centre, said the reform of the CAP involves a 23% cut in support price for dairy products between 2004 and 2007, with less than 60% compensation by means of a decoupled payment.
“This new situation puts major pressure on dairy farmers’ to develop systems of milk production capable of delivering satisfactory returns in a lower milk price scenario. Likewise, it puts major pressure on dairy processors to find good markets in the EU and also eliminate unnecessary costs.
“At farm level acquiring and applying the best technical innovation will be very important in this new environment,” he said.
Dr Dillon said systems of milk production based on high utilisation of grazed grass (70% or greater) will allow for the development of low cost, high labour productivity and low fixed costs systems of milk production.
Urging all dairy farmers’ to attend the event, Dr Pat Dillon said they will have an opportunity to get the most up to date information and to speak to Teagasc staff on all aspects of cost control on dairy farms.
