Doubling of concentrate feeds leads to 38% milk yield increase in North

A doubling in concentrate feeds has delivered a 38% milk yield increase in Northern Ireland, with no increase in cow numbers, said one Teagasc expert.

Teagasc researcher Patrick Gillespie has tracked the North’s phenomenal increase in milk output since 1996, which was achieved with the same national herd size.

The increase has taken place due to an increase of almost 2,000 litres per cow in milk yield, largely driven by a doubling in the level of concentrates used to 2,400kg per cow.