Dr Patrick Wall is Professor of Public Health in UCD and is a member of UCD’s Institute for Food and Health. His research areas include food safety, nutrition and managing lifestyle related disease through behavioural change. Paddy’s academic career began in the UCD vet school where he qualified as a vet followed by a degree in Human Medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland. He holds an MSc in Infectious Diseases from University of London and an MBA from the Michael Smurfit School of Business UCD and a Diploma in Corporate Governance from the UCD Centre of Corporate Governance. Paddy has had an impressive career; he was head of the Foodborne Diseases Division of the UK CDC before he was made the first Chief Executive of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland in 1998. He is a founder member of the management board and former chairperson of the European Food Safety Authority. He advised the Chinese government on food safety issues for the 2008 Beijing Olympics and still sits on a committee in the Chinese equivalent of the European Food Safety Authority. Paddy still holds several national and international advisory positions and is a director of Agri- Aware and is chairperson of Independent Milk Laboratories.
GD is farming with his wife Caroline and their three children in Westmeath, milking 400 cows. GD grew up in Scotland and began his farming career in the mid 90’s when he returned home to work on the family farm milking 120 cows. In the late 90’s the opportunity came to buy his uncle out who was milking 100 cows, and this allowed them to amalgamate the two herds to improve labour efficiency. Cow output steadily increased to 9,500 litres per cow on a high input system. Poor returns and difficulty in finding labour led them to quit dairying and convert to sheep and sucklers in 2011. They set up their own brand ‘Argyll Angus’ to help market their own beef by targeting the local tourist market. In 2015 they purchased their current farm after selling their farms in Scotland to start up a new dairy enterprise in Ireland.
Laura Hannon is 28 years old and dairy farming in partnership with her parents in Co. Meath. Laura qualified as a general nurse in 2017 and worked in Beaumont hospital until May 2019, when she returned home to farm. She completed the Green Cert in 2019 by distance learning and then enrolled on a part-time Degree in Agriculture, which she graduated from in 2023. The family partnership is currently milking 320 cows. In 2020, they ceased contract rearing and now rear approximately 80 calves and 80 heifers on a leased out-farm. Animal health is a priority area for Laura, and together with her father they work closely with their vets to create a herd health plan that is relevant and practical for their farm. Working with their vets has helped them to significantly decrease the farm’s antibiotic and anthelmintic use. Laura recently won the ‘Animal Health Dairy Farmer of the Year’ award.
Mark is farming in Tipperary in partnership with his parents, Padraig and Ena. He graduated from UCD in 2020 with a Degree in Agricultural Science in Dairy Business. The partnership is milking 450 crossbred cows on 170 ha with a 10 ha out block and all youngstock are contracted reared. Mark has a strong focus on a simple efficient system that produces quality milk solids from resilient pasture in a sustainable manner, and this year he implemented a 10 in 7 milking rota. He aims to grow more multispecies and grass-clover swards to reduce chemical fertiliser use and improve soil health and breed high EBI crossbred cows that are efficient at converting grass to milk solids. Alongside Mark and his parents, there are 2 other full-time staff members and occasional part-time help. There is a strong emphasis on keeping a positive working environment, to achieve the farm’s goals and the personal development of staff
From a farming background, Tadhg is currently Director of Policy/Chief Economist with the Irish Farmers Association (IFA), Ireland’s largest farming organisation. Prior to joining the IFA, Tadhg worked in the finance industry as Head of Agriculture with AIB Bank. He holds a Degree in Agricultural Science from UCD as well as an MBA from University of Limerick. Tadhg is also a Nuffield Scholar – his study examined the role of dairy futures markets & other price risk management mechanisms in the EU Dairy Industry. He is also a member of the Agricultural Science Association and a Qualified Financial Advisor. Tadhg continues to be actively involved in dairy farming on his home farm in North Cork.
Owen is farming in a cow leasing/ contract milking deal with Kevin and Margaret Twomey in Castlelyons, Co. Cork. He graduated with a BSc Agriculture from Aberystwyth University in 2013, after which he gained valuable experience working on large scale dairy farms in New Zealand, Wales, and Ireland. Not from a dairy farming background, he has always had a passion for dairy farming, and this partnership with the Twomey’s has allowed him to realise his goal. Owen purchased his first stock in 2015 and has since grown his herd whilst working alongside Kevin to 160 cows plus followers. They are currently milking 185 high EBI cross bred cow on a 57 ha milking platform with winter feed coming from an outside block. In 2022, they sold 467 kg MS/cow, at 4.62% fat and 3.79% protein. Owen has a strong focus on producing high quality milk from a grass based production system, with a good work life balance.
David farms alongside his parents Louis and Bernie near Claremorris, Co. Mayo. The 50 ha farm carries 110 crossbred cows. The farm has undergone significant change over the last 6 years going from a split calving high output system with multiple out blocks, to a spring calving medium output system on a single block. In 2022, the calving interval was 370 days, and the six-week calving rate was 86%, producing 520 kg of milk solids per cow supplying Aurivo Co-op. David is focusing on reducing the environmental impact of the farm and making more room for biodiversity. 20% of the farm is now in high clover swards with plans to introduce multi-species swards in 2024. David has just completed his Nuffield Scholarship, titled ‘Net Zero Emissions Farming: Challenges and Opportunities for farmers and co-ops’.
Ger graduated from UCD Veterinary College in 1982. A practicing vet at Comeragh Veterinary, a mixed, mainly dairy cattle practice, based in Kilmacthomas, Co. Waterford. He also has a Certificate in Dairy Herd Health from 2015. He is a member of Animal Health Ireland’s newly formed ‘Hoof Health Check Technical Working Group’. He is a Member of the Veterinary Council of Ireland and is founder chairman of XLVets Ireland, a company providing networking support to independent veterinary practices throughout Ireland. He has worked with Muireann Conneely of Teagasc, to produce the “Reducing Lameness in Irish Dairy Herds” booklet in 2022. Ger is also a director of Greenway Agritraining, a company dedicated to the delivery of practical, hands-on training to farmers and others in the farming sector, focusing on hoof care and the prevention of lameness in dairy herds.
Don is the Milk Quality Specialist Advisor in Teagasc. He completed his Degree in Agricultural Science in 1994 from UCD. Prior to joining Teagasc, Don worked for more than ten years with Riverview Veterinary group in Bandon Co. Cork where he held roles as an Agri-Advisor and practice Manager. He began his current Milk Quality Specialist role in 2006 with Teagasc, based in Clonakilty, as part of the Teagasc/Dairygold joint programme. His role is now expanded, where he provides key advisory support to milk suppliers and advisors in the joint programmes that Teagasc run with Dairygold, Kerry & Carbery Co-ops. A native of Co. Cork, Don and his wife Michelle run a successful dairy farm in Ballineen and supply milk to Lisavaird Co-op.
The 2024 Irish Grassland Association Dairy Conference, sponsored by Yara, was held on Jan 10th following the highly enjoyable IGA social night event & Gala Dinner on the evening of the 9th. The Conference event was held, once again, in the excellent facilities of the Charleville Park Hotel in Co. Cork.
The theme of the Conference for 2024 was “Focusing on our strengths”. Following a challenging year in 2023 in terms of milk price, input costs and periods of difficult weather, it was timely to encourage the attendees to reflect on and be motivated by what makes our dairy farms profitable and what can be controlled within the business. The focus of each of the 3 sessions aimed at encouraging all participants to focus on what happens inside the farm gate and to concentrate on the key elements of what make their business resilient and ultimately, sustainable. To fine-tune this focus the conference was divided into 3 sessions to address these topics:
Session 1: Managing Challenging Milk Prices
The first session of the morning was chaired by IGA Council Member Patrick Gowing and opened with a presentation by GD Young, Dairy farmer from Co. Westmeath. GD has a very interesting and diverse farming background and he gave us an overview of this journey from a high input, split calving, liquid milk system of 240 cows in Aberdeenshire in the West of Scotland (along with beef/sheep & potato enterprises) to the spring calving, grass-based system he now runs with his wife Caroline and family outside Mullingar. GD’s journey reflects a dynamic and adaptive approach to farming, with strategic decisions made in response to economic challenges and market opportunities. The major decision to uproot the family came from a very strong motivation to create a simple, grass based system that allowed for flexibility and a strong focus on work-life balance. Following major investment in land purchase, yard and infrastructure development on to what was a green field (former tillage farm) site, the Young’s now run a highly profitable herd of 400 cows.
Tadhg Buckley, IFA Director of Policy/Chief Economist followed with a presentation giving a broad overview of the current position of the Irish Dairy Industry and a better understanding on the competitive advantage our grass-based system gives us in Ireland. The post quota era development in Ireland has seen a 33% increase in Dairy Cow numbers and a 65% increase in total milk solids and has been done in a sustainable way. Tadhg highlighted the value this has brought to the national and regional economies. Tadhg delved into the key drivers of the lower cost of production within the Irish system. The Irish Economy has one of the highest minimum wages (a reflection of the strength of the economy), highest electricity costs and the highest ratio when we compare concentrate and pasture costs (7:1) across the main dairy producing areas. Therefore it is absolutely critical we do not lose focus on maximising the intake of grass within the production system and to do this it is imperative that we retain the nitrates derogation. Tadhg concluded with a discussion on the short-medium term outlook on global dairy markets.
To conclude the session Patrick Gowing facilitated a broader discussion on a comparison between GD’s grass-based system in Mullingar to the high input/high output system he left in Scotland. The case study figures showed that in a high milk price scenario the high input system is relatively profitable however when adjusted for the on-going milk price volatility that is the Irish reality this high input system can come under serious financial pressure. The parting points highlighted that Ireland is an excellent place to continue with our grass-focussed system and it is critical that a change of focus due to nitrates implications and a limit on cow numbers does not lead to system drift.
Session 2: Getting it Right this Spring
This session brought us 3 excellent presentations on key areas of animal health and milk quality. Ger Cusack, practicing vet in Co. Waterford, gave us huge insight to the effects of lameness within the dairy herd. In grazing herds, white line issues and sole bruising are the most common hoof lesions that he sees. Many vets and hoof trimmers also report anecdotally that Mortellaro (also known as Digital Dermatitis) has become more prevalent in recent years. Ger outlined key areas for action that can be easily implemented in a proactive way on farm. As with many issues, prevention is better than cure and on-going observation, prompt intervention where needed will reduce the overall impact lameness has within the herd.
Don Crowley, Teagasc Milk Quality Specialist, focussed his presentation on early lactation management of SCC & milk quality issues. Set against the backdrop of the requirement to reduce antibiotic use within herds (for example through the use of selective dry cow therapy SDCT) due to anti-microbial resistance (AMR), Don highlighted key areas important for this: the benefits of good information to assessing and managing the first 100 days incorporating the first milk recording within 60 days of the first cow calving, servicing the parlour & changing liners. Cubicle allocation and hygiene are massively important as is the management of cows within 2 weeks of calving and those freshly calved – these are the groups that are most susceptible to infection. High SCC in February is not normal so vigilance is critical as is the management of cow body condition with milk fever being a gate-way disease to an animal developing other problems. Analysis of ICBF reports will be crucial to get to the root cause of any on-farm issue e.g heifer mastitis, use these in conjunction with your Vet/Advisor to keep on top of things. For the year ahead Don urged a policy that all cases of mastitis will be sampled for potential culture and sensitivity. Identification of chronic cows is a crucial part in the control/ or prevention of mastitis. A lot of these cows are at best marginal in profitability and they should be culled out of the herd.
Laura Hannon, former Nurse now farming in partnership with her parents in Co. Meath, outlined her approach to calf rearing and calf health. Laura is a recent winner of the ‘Animal Health Dairy Farmer of the Year’ award and from her clear demonstration of attention to detail she was a very worthy winner. Housing facilities on her farm, as she described, are not state of the art but her management approach is. For example scour treatment protocols have been developed with her Vet as have very clear SOP’s for all staff on the farm. Laura is meticulous about hygiene particularly in the areas of calf bedding and feeding equipment. New-born calves are tube-fed colostrum as needed and blood tested for antibody levels. Calf weights are monitored every 4-6 weeks and Laura was clear that looking at average weights of groups of calves in not ideal. She uses the maintenance sub-index (with the EBI) of each calf to guide her as to the target weights and to monitor weight gain. This facilitates identifying additional care a calf may need and Laura highlighted that early identification of poor performing calves is a huge benefit. Routine dung sampling is used to identify whether calves require dosing. Laura concluded how she has resolved issues with summer scour in calves and 3 cases of CCN in 2023 through vigilance and early intervention and developing a programme that works for her farm.
Session 3: Managing a System to suit your Business
The final session of the conference took the form of a facilitated panel discussion with audience Q&A. Chaired by IGA Council member, Michael Egan, we first got an overview from the 3 Dairy farmer speakers on their career to date. The focus of the session discussions revolved around how each of the farmers have adapted their farm businesses to reflect key focus areas within their systems.
David Dolan, farms alongside his parents Louis and Bernie near Claremorris, Co. Mayo. The 50 ha farm carries 110 crossbred cows. The farm has undergone significant change over the last 6 years going from a split calving high output system with multiple out blocks, to a spring calving medium output system on a single block. David is focusing on reducing the environmental impact of the farm and making more room for biodiversity. 20% of the farm is now in high clover swards with plans to introduce multi-species swards in 2024. David has just completed his Nuffield Scholarship, titled ‘Net Zero Emissions Farming: Challenges and Opportunities for farmers and co-ops’.
Mark Collins is farming in Tipperary in partnership with his parents, Padraig and Ena. The partnership is milking 450 crossbred cows on 170 ha with a 10 ha out block and all youngstock are contracted reared. Mark has a strong focus on a simple efficient system that produces quality milk solids from resilient pasture in a sustainable manner, and this year he implemented a 10 in 7 milking routine. There is a strong emphasis on keeping a positive working environment, to achieve the farm’s goals and the personal development of staff.
Owen Ashton is farming in a cow leasing/ contract milking deal with Kevin and Margaret Twomey in Castlelyons, Co. Cork. Not from a dairy farming background, he has always had a passion for dairy farming, and this partnership with the Twomey’s has allowed him to realise his goal. Owen has a strong focus on producing high quality milk from a grass based production system, with a good work life balance.
Each farmer showcased a unique approach, highlighting adaptability and innovation.
Together, they serve as compelling examples of the industry’s future driven by youthful energy and commitment.
Overall the conference was an excellent mix of technical presentations, panel discussions, Q&A sessions, and opportunities for networking to facilitate the exchange of ideas and experiences among dairy farmers, industry experts, and event sponsors Yara. Overall, the theme “Focusing on our strengths” showed it is clearly possible to adopt a proactive approach to overcoming challenges and building a sustainable future for the Irish dairy industry.
Papers and presentations
Thanks to all our speakers and session chairs for their time in preparing their papers and talks and for such high quality presentations on the day.
The 2025 event takes place on the 7th and 8th January at the Charleville Park Hotel. Delegates are encouraged to book B+B early (as accomodation sold out in October 2023 in advance of the January 2024 event).
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