Discussion group events

TWO important events for dairy farmers will take place next week as the joint winners of the ACCBank EBI dairy discussion group competition host dairy open days in Cork and Laois.

Crookstown Dairy Discussion Group from west Cork will host an open day on Wednesday, September 8, on the farm of Liam Leahy, Bridelands, Crookstown.

Meanwhile, the Damer Discussion Group, the other joint national winners of the competition, will hold their open day on the farm of Padraig Hyland, Ballacolla, Co Laois, on Thursday, September 9.

Both open days will highlight the benefits of working collectively as a group to improve the physical and financial performance on the farms of individual members.

Teagasc said these farmers have shown tremendous commitment to the ideals of better breeding linked to profitable dairying and farm development.

The open days will focus on breeding high EBI cows, managing replacement heifers, good grassland management and the financial and expansion plans of the groups.

Teagasc dairy programme manager Tom O’Dwyer said the development of EBI has provided dairy farmers with the opportunity to select dairy AI sires that combine excellent milk solids production and fertility.

“This competition has encouraged more farmers to improve the genetic merit of their herds and in doing so improve the bottom line of their enterprises,” he said.

Andrew Cromie, Irish Cattle Breeding Federation, said the competition has been an excellent vehicle for promoting profitability at farm level through the use of high EBI AI sires and the need to generate more dairy herd replacements.

The EBI competition is sponsored by ACCBank and is jointly organised by Teagasc, ICBF and the Irish Farmers Journal.