Joe Sheehy: Grass cuts feed cost and boosts milk protein

Grazed grass is the best and cheapest feed.

The target set by most top farmers is to produce 80% to 90% of milk from grass (including about 20% from grass silage) at a stocking rate of about one cow per acre, producing 1,300-1,500 gallons of good quality milk each (6,000-6,750 litres).

This is 50% higher than the present average production level in Ireland.