Arrival of trucks signals relief for farmers hit by fodder crisis

The North Cork co-op is to sell the hay at cost to its members. The large 800kg bales provide the equivalent of a day’s high-fibre feed supplement for 130 cows, while 640kg bales provide enough high-fibre content to feed 100 cows a day.
Demand was strong and, with limited supply, farmers bought one or two bales at a time, depending on need. The first delivery arrived in Mitchelstown on Saturday, with other deliveries to follow. Dairygold agri-trading general manager Séan O’Sullivan said: “With the fodder shortage, Dairygold went in search of hay supply in the UK and while stocks are also tight in the UK, we found some available hay in the south-east and identified straw supply if further supply is needed.”