Energy cost up to 0.67cpl
Detailed energy audits were carried out by Teagasc on 21 commercial dairy farms last year, and one of the main findings was that can reduced by as much as 50% by plate cooling to within 3°C of incoming water temperature (requiring a milk to water flow ratio of between 1 to 2.5, and 1 to 3.
Energy audit variations in herd size from 46 to 170 cows, and milking parlours from eight to 20 units, led to a wide range in energy consumed per litre of milk produced (from nine to 22 Watts) and cost per litre (from 0.23c to 0.67c).
