Keep lactose above 4.2%. It’s valuable

Watch cow nutrition and overall yield up to drying-off, to keep the lactose content above 4.2%.

Milk-lactose value has trebled since 2005, said Úna Geary and Laurence Shalloo, Teagasc researchers, at the Moorepark 2013 event during the summer.

Lactose is a valuable commodity, they said, with milk processors incorporating it into their payment system, in the case of Synlait, in New Zealand, and with FrieslandCampina proposing to include it soon in the payment system.