Dairy farmers’ livelihood dependent on show promotion

THE glamour of the horse show might seem far removed from farmers milking their cows at home, but the horses and riders from 10 countries competing in the main arena in Ballsbridge have an important link with the economic well-being of 27,000 dairy farms.

For the prices the farmers are paid for their milk supplies by processors largely depends on the buoyancy of the international markets for dairy products being promoted through the show. The Irish Dairy Board, a commercial co-operative, markets the products of its co-ops and dairy companies in some 80 countries across four continents, with the aim of generating the maximum return for the primary producer.

It owns the internationally established Kerrygold brand, which is 40 years in existence this year, and is this country’s biggest food exporter, with annual sales of 1.9 billion.