Technology ‘key to dairy farm profits’

THE technology exists to earn more on dairy farms, milk producers were told at last week’s Teagasc Open Day at Curtin’s Research Farm at Moorepark, Co Cork.

Dr Pat Dillon, head of the Production Research Centre, said that using high EBI sires to breed future replacements and continued innovation in grazing management were the keys to improved profit.

High EBI sires would help to reduce infertility costs and improve productivity, he explained.

A study over the last four years at Curtin’s Research Farm showed that a 50,000 gallon high EBI herd, generated almost €9,000 more profit than a lower EBI herd.

Daughters of these sires from the ICBF active bull list can leave nearly €80 more profit per lactation on average, compared to stock bulls, said Dr Dillon.

He said better utilisation of grazed grass (in free draining land) could take it to 3.7 tonnes per cow (or 75% of the diet), while reducing grass silage to less than one tonne and concentrates supplementation to 0.3 tonnes.

Research had also shown that a 10% increase in grazed grass in the diet resulted in a cost reduction of 2.5 cent/litre of milk produced, Dr Dillon added.