Teagasc has produced and launched an ‘infrastructure workbook’ for dairy farms, designed to help farmers plan improvements in the areas of grazing, milk practices and energy use.
The Dairy Farm Infrastructure Workbook, produced in association with Ulster Bank, was launched yesterday, Wednesday, July 3, at the Teagasc National Dairy Open Day, Moorepark ’19.
Dr. Pat Dillon, head of the Teagasc Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation programme, who was involved in launching the workbook, called on farmers to look at their farm infrastructure and consider where “priority investments” need to be made.
Improvements will be vital to maximise grass production and utilisation, particularly in the shoulders of the grazing season, and to ensure a sustainable milking routine and work schedule is achieved, and to control energy demand and efficiency on Irish farms.
Dr. Ailish Byrne, head of agriculture with Ulster Bank, asserted that the workbook “enables farmers to assess their own infrastructure, identify deficits and successfully plan for improvements”.
According to Teagasc, when infrastructure is “less than optimum”, it results in difficulties in grassland management, utilisation, animal performance and labour input, particularly when weather is poor.
Teagasc also says that labour efficiency, milk quality and the welfare of both the milker and the herd can be improved if the “countless interactions” between the milker, the facilities and the cow can be optimised through infrastructure.
Finally, another of the authors, Pat Tuohy from Teagasc, said: “A well-designed, carefully built and properly maintained farm roadway system has many benefits, including: less lameness; less mastitis; better general animal health; faster and easier stock movement; cleaner cows and milk; less roadway maintenance; and more efficient paddock access.”
The workbook is available to be downloaded here.