IGA tour to focus on profitability

HIGH returns on investment and profit driven dairy farming will be the focus of the Irish Grassland Association’s (IGA) Dairy Summer Tour in Co Cork today (July 24).

One of the farms on the tour is Shinagh Dairy farm in Bandon.

Kevin Ahern who is farm manager was invited to host a tour due to his high return on investment on the leased farm. Kevin has managed this 78 hectare leased farm since it was established in 2011 by the four West Cork co-ops.

All of the land leased comprises the milking platform with the 232 strong dairy herd stocked at 3.0 cows/ha.

The farm grew an average of 17.1 tonnes dry matter per hectare in 2017.

The herd produced 397 kg milk solids per cow (4.54pc fat; 3.79pc protein) on 320 kg meal last year with 1,200kg of milk solids produced per hectare.

Conor and Josie’s dairy farm in Aherla, Co Cork will also feature on the tour.

The farm grew over 16 tonnes of grass dry matter per hectare in 2017. Conor’s herd produced 527 kg milk solids per cow (4.50pc fat; 3.75pc protein) on 830 kg meal that year.

Common features on both farms include breeding the right cow, soil improvement and careful cashflow planning.

Speaking ahead of the tour, Michael Bateman of the IGA said: “Since milk quota removal, commercially focused dairy farms have the opportunity to specialise in dairying and maximise the profitability and returns on their dairy farm, with this in mind we chose these two different farms.”