Cork dairy farmers detail cautious expansion goals

Dairy farmers in Cork are on track to deliver a 30%-50% increase in milk output by 2020, with the growth to come from greater efficiency more than from extra livestock, industry experts told an AIB event in Vienna Woods Hotel, Cork.

Agri consultant Michael Keane said Cork is already home to Ireland’s strongest dairy region, with its 1.4bn litres of milk annually representing 25% of Ireland’s total output. The county’s 70-cow herd size is higher than the national average of 65 cows. The county’s growth ambitions are likely to create 10,000 jobs, predicated on cow numbers rising from 306,000 to 400,000 and output rising from 1.4bn to 2.1bn litres annually by 2020.

“This is the first time in 31 years that farmers can produce as much milk as they want,” said Dr Keane, recently retired from UCC and author, with CIT’s Declan O’Connor, of an extensive survey of Cork’s dairy sector. “Ireland is the best placed country in Europe to expand in the post-quota era, and Cork has the longest grass-feeding season.