Paula Hynes: It’s time to decide — volume game or value game for Irish dairy?

Dairy production globally is a volume game anyway. But if we adapt our cow type on farm, then so too do our dairy processors need to adapt, writes Cork dairy farmer Paula Hynes

Ireland may have somewhat of a low-cost dairy system; but now we also have the second-lowest milk price in Europe at the moment. File photo

We returned from the sunshine and sea to rather cold, crispy weather, which was a little bit of a shock to the system given the 20-degree difference in temperatures. However, the brief cold snap was needed as it had been unseasonably mild in Ireland prior to that. 

Shorts and t-shirts were quickly replaced by overalls, wellies and woolly hats as we got straight back to work, and it really was a treat to look around the farm and see how smoothly Becky had the place running. She always thrives on responsibility, and there was no big workload to catch up on.