Dairy Week to focus on health and nutrition

Ireland’s dairy sector is to use next week’s National Dairy Week events to promote the quality of milk.

Agri Aware, the independent Irish agri-food educational body, is joining forces with the National Dairy Council in an education campaign focused on the importance of the dairy industry and the role of dairy as part of a balanced diet.

The week will showcase Ireland’s pasture-based dairy farming and produce.

National Dairy Week comes as the Irish dairy industry continues its expansion programme, with the abolition of EU quota restrictions earlier this month. Olympic athlete Derval O’Rourke will launch National Dairy Week at Family Farm, developed by Agri Aware and Dublin Zoo, at 10am on April 20 at the zoo.

Visitors to Family Farm will be able to watch Bella, the Family Farm dairy cow, being milked, take part in a class on Irish dairy in the farmhouse classroom and take a tour of the Agri Aware farm.

Derval O’Rourke and a nutritionist from the National Dairy Council will both be on hand to discuss the nutritious value of milk, yoghurt, and cheese, and to demonstrate some exercise techniques.