A New Direction for the Payment of Milk: Technological and Seasonality Considerations in Multiple Component Milk Pricing of Milk (Liquid and Manufacturing) for a Diversifying Dairy Industry

End of project reportThe main objectives of this study were to compare a Multiple Component Pricing system with the current milk pricing practice in Ireland and to estimate the marginal values of the three main milk components (fat, protein and lactose) in the context of the Irish milk processing industry. A representative linear programming model of an average Irish milk processor was developed in order to determine the marginal values of the milk components and to compare the value of milk under the Multiple Component Pricing system with the value under the current milk pricing practice. This study also examined the effect of product mix, milk supply and milk composition on the marginal value of the milk components

Replacement strategies to maximise profiltability in dairying.

End of Project ReportsThe overall objective of this project was to develop a dynamic model which would determine the optimum replacement rates for dairy herds under an Irish system of production. A model was designed and applied to the Irish dairy replacement problem, which included in the decision making process production, fertility, calving interval, seasonality, month of calving and various economic factors. The output from the Hierarchic model is a series of rankings. The dynamic programming approach can enable one to inform a farmer which cows in the herd should be replaced, on the basis that a replacement heifer( and its future successors) are expected to be more profitable than the current cow. The optimum replacement rate was 17.8% from this analysis.European Union Structural Fund (EAGGF

The development of feeding and management strategies for milk production systems with very contrasting milk supply patterns.

End of Project ReportsIn Experiment 1, three systems of milk production with contrasting calving patterns, namely 100% autumn (A); 100% spring (S) and 50% autumn: 50% spring (AS), were compared over a two year period. The average milk yield was 6,532, 6,358 and 6,142 kg/cow for systems A, AS and S respectively. The difference in yield was not statistically significant. Fat yield, fat content and protein yield for system S was significantly lower than those with the other two systems. The autumn-calving cows (A) had reduced reproductive performance. Experiment 2 compared grazed grass with grass silage as a forage source for autumn-calving cows in early lactation; it showed that the cows on grazed grass had significantly higher milk protein yield and milk protein content. The cows on the grass silage had significantly lower dry matter intake and a significantly higher bodyweight loss post-calving. The aim of this project was to develop low-cost systems of milk production which lead to an improved milk supply pattern of quality milk for the food industry. In particular, the objective was to research the role which grazed grass can contribute to the feed requirements of cows calving at different times during the year.European Union Structural Funds (EAGGF

Winter Housing and Feeding System for Small to Medium Sized Dairy Farms

End of Project ReportA survey of 190 dairy farms in a co-operative area in the south of Ireland served as the main source of data in the present study. Eight farms representative of the different types of dairy farms were chosen and their data were analysed using the Finpack financial analysis program. These eight case studies were analysed using alternative funding strategies to determine the effect of alternative funding strategies for farm buildings on net farm income. The data obtained were extrapolated to the national dairy herd. There are some 14,050 dairy farms with quotas of less than 15,000 gallons and 40% of these were classified as non viable. The corresponding figures for other quota categories are as follows: 8,150 farms with quotas of 15,000-25,000 gallons with 40% non-viable; 7780 farms with quotas of 25,000-40,000 gallons with 20% nonviable; and 8,535 farms with quotas >40,000 gallons with 10% nonviable. Non-viable dairy farms were those with low income, low contact with advisory services, low household dependence on farm income, a poor attitude to development and expansion and generally inadequate farm facilities. Non-viable dairy farms should consider changing from dairying into a suckler and/or beef enterprise and should be assisted to do so by the advisory service. They should be considered for a suckler quota unit for each 987 gallons of milk they had been producing. They should consider using income assistants, e.g., REPS, Early Retirement Scheme and/or unemployment benefits as relevant. Training schemes should be targeted at young farmers and their spouses who are not working so that they have a better chance of offfarm employment, when relevant. Potentially viable and viable dairy farms should be assisted on a sliding scale depending on their quota size, as follows: Grant aid for upgrading milking facilities, grant aid for milking and milk cooling equipment, interest subsidies on interest payment on money borrowed for agricultural development, the smallest milk quota farms should be considered the priority for milk quota reallocation, quota purchase should be subsidised if possible, quota leasing should be subsidised for the smallest quota category (<15,000 gallons), installation Aid should be introduced for all viable and potentially viable dairy farms.Dairy Farmer Levy Fund

An evaluation of earth banked tanks for slurry storage

End of project reportThis study examines the feasibility of using earth-banked tanks (EBT’s) as an alternative and economical means of winter storage for animal and other farmyard wastes. The study contains a detailed literature review on the subject, the results of a series of laboratory-scale experiments, field studies and a predictive model of the transport process through the soil liner of an earth-banked tank

Supplementation of native grass hay with cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) hay, wilted leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) forage, wilted tagasaste (Chamaecytisus palmensis) forage or a wheat middling for young Friesian x Zebu (Boran) crossbred steers

A 100-day experiment of a randomized block design was conducted with forty Friesian x Zebu (Boran) crossbred growing steers to compare the value of wheat middling, an agro-industrial by-product (diet W), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) hay (diet C), and wilted forages of leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala, diet L) and tagasaste (Chamaecytisus palmensis, diet T) as cattle feed. These feeds were fed daily at a level of 1.5 kg (on an air dry basis) to supplement the basal diet (diet H) of native hay. A mineral supplement containing 50 g bone meal and 10 g common salt was also given daily. The steers were group-fed, but during the last two weeks at the end of the experiment the animals were housed individually in feeding pens to estimate the feed intake and apparent digestibilities of the diets. The animals were weighed at the beginning of the experiment, thereafter every two weeks, and finally at the end of the experiment. The animals consumed all the offered supplements, except for tagasaste forage, of which one third remained unconsumed. The mean daily total dry matter intake during the individual feeding period ranged from 4.0 to 5.0 kg between the diets (

The development of feeding and management strategies for milk production systems with very contrasting milk supply patterns.

End of Project ReportsIn Experiment 1, three systems of milk production with contrasting calving patterns, namely 100% autumn (A); 100% spring (S) and 50% autumn: 50% spring (AS), were compared over a two year period. The average milk yield was 6,532, 6,358 and 6,142 kg/cow for systems A, AS and S respectively. The difference in yield was not statistically significant. Fat yield, fat content and protein yield for system S was significantly lower than those with the other two systems. The autumn-calving cows (A) had reduced reproductive performance. Experiment 2 compared grazed grass with grass silage as a forage source for autumn-calving cows in early lactation; it showed that the cows on grazed grass had significantly higher milk protein yield and milk protein content. The cows on the grass silage had significantly lower dry matter intake and a significantly higher bodyweight loss post-calving. The aim of this project was to develop low-cost systems of milk production which lead to an improved milk supply pattern of quality milk for the food industry. In particular, the objective was to research the role which grazed grass can contribute to the feed requirements of cows calving at different times during the year.European Union Structural Funds (EAGGF

Lehmänpavun, kahden esikuivatun Leguminosae-rehupuun sekä vehnäleseen vertailu lisärehuna friisiläis-zebu -risteytyssonnivasikoiden ruokinnassa

A 100-day experiment of a randomized block design was conducted with forty Friesian x Zebu (Boran) crossbred growing steers to compare the value of wheat middling, an agro-industrial by-product (diet W), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) hay (diet C), and wilted forages of leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala, diet L) and tagasaste (Chamaecytisus palmensis, diet T) as cattle feed. These feeds were fed daily at a level of 1.5 kg (on an air dry basis) to supplement the basal diet (diet H) of native hay. A mineral supplement containing 50 g bone meal and 10 g common salt was also given daily. The steers were group-fed, but during the last two weeks at the end of the experiment the animals were housed individually in feeding pens to estimate the feed intake and apparent digestibilities of the diets. The animals were weighed at the beginning of the experiment, thereafter every two weeks, and finally at the end of the experiment. The animals consumed all the offered supplements, except for tagasaste forage, of which one third remained unconsumed. The mean daily total dry matter intake during the individual feeding period ranged from 4.0 to 5.0 kg between the diets (PSata päivää kestäneessä kasvukokeessa, joka tehtiin 40 friisiläis-zebu-risteytyssonnivasikalla, verrattiin lehmänpapua (Vigna unquiculata), kahta esikuivattua Leguminosae-rehupuuta, leueaena (Leueaena leueoephala) ja tagasaste (Chamaecytisys palmensis), sekä vehnälesettä vasikoiden lisärehuna käytännön tilatason ruokinnassa. Valitut rehut ovat kotoperäisiä tai yleisesti paikallisesti tuotettavia märehtijän rehuja tropiikin ja sub-tropiikin maissa. Lisärehua annettiin ilmakuivana 1.5 kg täydentämään luonnonvaraiseen niittyheinään perustuvaa ruokintaa, jossa myös päivittäinen kivennäisten saanti oli varmistettu. Johtopäätös kokeen syönti- ja kasvutuloksista oli, että vehnäleseen jälkeen tuotantovaikutukseltaan paras lisärehu oli leueaena. Toinen rehupuu tagasaste antoi huonoimman kasvutuloksen, kontrolliryhmä mukaan lukien. Huono kasvutulos ehkä johtui suureksi osaksi siitä, että eläimet jättivät noin kolmasosan tarjotusta tagasastesta syömättä. Muilla lisärehuilla ei havaittu syönti- tai maittavuusongelmia. Selostettu koe tehtiin Afrikan kansainvälisessä kotieläintutkimuskeskuksessa ILCA:ssa, Addis Abebassa, Etiopiassa. Koe on osa Suomen Ulkoasiainministeriön Kehitysyhteistyöosaston rahoittamaa lypsykarjan ruokinnan kehittämisprojektia Etiopian ylänköalueilla

Replacement strategies to maximise profiltability in dairying.

End of Project ReportsThe overall objective of this project was to develop a dynamic model which would determine the optimum replacement rates for dairy herds under an Irish system of production. A model was designed and applied to the Irish dairy replacement problem, which included in the decision making process production, fertility, calving interval, seasonality, month of calving and various economic factors. The output from the Hierarchic model is a series of rankings. The dynamic programming approach can enable one to inform a farmer which cows in the herd should be replaced, on the basis that a replacement heifer( and its future successors) are expected to be more profitable than the current cow. The optimum replacement rate was 17.8% from this analysis.European Union Structural Fund (EAGGF

A New Direction for the Payment of Milk: Technological and Seasonality Considerations in Multiple Component Milk Pricing of Milk (Liquid and Manufacturing) for a Diversifying Dairy Industry

End of project reportThe main objectives of this study were to compare a Multiple Component Pricing system with the current milk pricing practice in Ireland and to estimate the marginal values of the three main milk components (fat, protein and lactose) in the context of the Irish milk processing industry. A representative linear programming model of an average Irish milk processor was developed in order to determine the marginal values of the milk components and to compare the value of milk under the Multiple Component Pricing system with the value under the current milk pricing practice. This study also examined the effect of product mix, milk supply and milk composition on the marginal value of the milk components