The end of the drought is finally in sight as rainfall is reported nationwide, but where has it left milk production?

According to the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF), average milk production has declined from 24.14kg milk/cow to 20.68kg milk/cow between the first week of July and Friday (August 28).

As a result, average milk solids have dropped by 0.13kg/cow/day to 1.66kg, down from 1.79kg/cow/day.

This is despite fat and protein percentages rising to 4.38% and 3.69% respectively, up from the 3.94% and 3.48% previously recorded.

In reality, this shows that diets have been well adjusted throughout the drought, as it indicates strong production for late August, a time when yields are dropping but solids are climbing.

Year-on-year grass growth

Although grass growth was low at the same time last year, it was not as low as it is now, with PastureBase recording an average growth rate of 46kg of dry matter (DM)/ha on August 26.

PastureBase Ireland is a web- and app-based grassland management decision support tool and national database run by Teagasc for dairy, beef, and sheep farmers

The south was hit the worst in 2025, with growth rates averaging 38kg DM/ha and 49kg DM/ha in the east and midlands, and 62kg DM/ha in the west for the corresponding week.

That resulted in farmers needing to feed an average nationwide diet of 14.5kg of grass, 3.5kg of meal, and 1kg of silage.

In the 10 days leading up to August 29, 2025, milk production was averaging 21.25kg of milk/cow, at 4.21% fat and 3.65% protein, leaving farmers with an average of 1.67kg of milk solids.

This means current production values are only 0.57kg of milk/cow lower than last year, with milk solids only 0.01kg down.

Farmers have managed to raise fat and protein percentages through well adjusted diets, and have therefore maintained solids' levels.

Margins under pressure

However, the current diets which are being fed, are far more expensive and are ultimately squeezing margins.

Despite this, it is better than letting production fall of steeply, because there would be no coming back from such a situation.

Despite farmers working hard to maintain production through the drought, the reduction in milk price is still having a large finacial impact.

Below is the daily income for a farm milking 100 cows, when comparing the production in the corresponding week in 2025 against milk prices then and now.

Despite the average 100-cow herd producing an additional 5.6kg of milk solids per day this week when compared to last week, there is a difference of €217.61/day in the milk cheques for these two weeks.

If one had to consider that this was the case for all 31 days in August, the average milk cheque would show a deficit of €6,745 when compared to last year.