25% milk loss adds up to €80 per cow
Since mid-June, Glanbia milk suppliers experienced drought which will have a big impact on milk output and ability to build winter fodder supplies.
Across most of Leinster, there has been a more rapid than normal decline in milk output over the past two or three weeks.
If yield loss is even 25% above normal, it can cost more than €8,000 between now and the end of lactation in a 100-cow spring calving herd.
Fat and protein percentage are under pressure on farms also.
Milk solids sold per cow are down 9% compared to 2017 on the Teagasc Greenfield Dairy demonstration farm in Co Kilkenny. Grass growth there had dipped below 40 at the end of June.
Due to the soil moisture deficit of about 70mm, cows are fed silage bales made in May and 3.5kg of concentrate. The rotation length is at 24 days (four hectares per day) until rain comes.
Clover content is good, with white clover flowering in most paddocks, but disappearing in the heat. The farm was still getting 19kg/ha of CAN once per week at the end of June.
