Animal heath, milk quality pose risk for dairy industry

The fourth in a series of Teagasc-ICOS seminars on dairy expansion will be held at Horse and Jockey, Co Tipperary, on Friday.

Animal health and milk quality, especially in the context of an expanding dairy industry, will be the theme.

Teagasc says animal health and milk quality post problems for individual dairy farmers and potentially for the overall Irish dairy industry.

Expansion of the national dairy herd could lead to increased challenges.

Frank O’Meara, Teagasc director of research, said the seminar will look at animal health issues particular to expanding dairy farms, and will discuss the risks related to expanding through buying-in stock.

“The seminar will also assess how our industry stands in relation to diseases that have the potential to be problematic from an international marketing point of view, and if the risks associated with these are likely to increase as expansion occurs,” Mr O’Meara said.

Meanwhile, Teagasc has also begun its New Forestry Programme, and is hosting nationwide meetings on grants over the next two weeks with landowners.